What If Bingley and Jane Also Misunderstood Each Other?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation
TIME FRAME: Begins the day after the Hunsford Proposal
SYNOPSIS: Elizabeth and Darcy are not alone in their misunderstandings in this Pride and Prejudice variation. Mr. Bingley and Jane have their fair share as well, and their misunderstandings manifest some unexpectedly new contention and drama! What happens when Mr. Bingley returns to Meryton, believes Jane is indifferent, and reads a different type of meaning into Elizabeth’s friendly encouragement? What happens when one of Jane Austen’s most harmonious sibling relationships faces turbulence, acrimony, and intense jealousy?
WHAT I LOVED:
- Daring and Unique: In this variation Ms. Lewis focuses on Jane’s and Mr. Bingley’s flaws (Jane’s reservation and passivity, Bingley’s lack of conviction and indecisiveness) and extenuates them a little. It was interesting to see what befalls these characters when their flaws cause them more heartache and regret. I especially enjoyed how Ms. Lewis didn’t need to alter much about these characters. She instead found hairline cracks in their character make-up and plausibly drew from their own insecurities and mistaken reasonings. It shows that, like Jane Austen, Jessie Lewis has great powers of observation and understanding of human nature. While some may think Bingley and Jane are often too agreeable/lacking in conflict, this variation uniquely shows us what happens when they aren’t!
- Multiple Sides and Angles: I thoroughly enjoyed how this story moved from perspective to perspective. I also enjoyed the torture and suspense of how the point-of-view would stay on one character for an extended period of time, rather than jumping quickly and often. Leaving readers with what felt like an interminable wait to return to the previous character’s point-of-view and see what happened to them during all the time that has passed. It appears Ms. Lewis has a teasing habit of ending some of her chapters with cliffhangers! 😉 I loved being able to follow multiple characters and see all the events that took place with them firsthand.
- Emotive and Ardent: This story immediately had me spellbound with Ms.
Lewis’s heartrending depictions of Darcy’s suffering and Elizabeth’s subsequent dismay in finding Darcy more worthy of her esteem than she first believed. Such strong and compelling portrayals of these emotions! Loved it! I also loved how the relationship blossomed between Darcy and Elizabeth, and how Darcy would often exclaim “God, I love you, woman.” When I hear someone say that I know they are bursting with overwhelming feelings of profound love and happiness, even though they state it so simply. I think Ms. Lewis captured beautifully the playful and passionate sides of Darcy and Elizabeth together.
- Correspondence: I loved how this story featured so many characters corresponding with each other and how readers were always privy to what each message said…although sometimes not immediately! I thought seeing the private communications between characters revealed a lot and Ms. Lewis did a wonderful job of implementing these letters into her story.
- Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Lady Sinclair: While sthe story focuses on Elizabeth, Darcy, Jane, and Bingley, there were some lovely secondary characters that got a chance to shine a little in this book. I particularly loved Ms. Lewis’s new character – Lady Sinclair (Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sardonic and blunt grandmother!) who kept saying the most unexpected and hilarious comments. I also loved seeing what become of Lady Catherine and her relationship with some characters. In addition, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s fierce loyalty towards his cousin is always heartwarming to witness.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- That I didn’t read this book sooner!
NOTE: Some scenes do allude to intimacy and sensual embraces so I would recommend this book for Mature Audiences.
CONCLUSION:
In a sensational debut, Jessie Lewis delivers a most imaginative and enthralling Pride and Prejudice variation that is filled with intense feeling, dramatic consequences, surprising character evolutions, and an exceptionally ardent romance! I adored not only the ingenuity and novelty of this daring premise, but how thoughtfully and perceptively it was handled and executed. A simply stellar read! I definitely recommend!
Great review, Meredith! I haven’t read this one yet, but after reading your review, it is definitely a must read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you, Janet! I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! 🙂
Yay! I knew you’d love it!
Sure did! 🙂
A Jane and Bingley story???? YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!! And YES!!!! 🙂
It is, but I’ll give you a warning, Kirk. They are not at their best in this one!
Oh no!!!!! Thx for the warning! Not sure this one is for me…hmmmm
Lovely review. I read and enjoyed this as a WIP and now MUST get to reread it as a published work so I can post a review also.
Thank you, Sheila! What a great reason to enjoy a lovely reread! 🙂
Great review, Meredith! I have this on my wish list still. I’m hearing such great things about it. I will have to move it to my TBR list soon! Lately, it seems I am getting to books that I wish I had read sooner too!
Thank you, my friend! I think all the great things everyone says are true! 😉 I’m sure you will love this one as much as I did!
Wonderful review Meredith! I also loved this book and yes I was a big fan of Darcy expressing his feelings for Elizabeth in such a way. Fabulous read which will definitely be read again (no wonder my TBR is so long )
Thank you, Glynis! I appreciate you checking it out! It was so romantic, wasn’t it?
Sounds fun!
It is! 🙂
Love your review Meredith – I loved this book too. Can’t believe I beat you to reading it, normally I lag months behind you (partially deliberately so I can find out the best reads!)
Thank you, my friend! 🙂 LOL! Yes, I’m several months late to the party on this one. So glad to hear you loved it!
Wow, thank you so much for such a lovely, insightful review Meredith. I’m absolutely delighted that you and your lovely readers enjoyed Mistaken. It’s a thrill to be able to share it with so many other Austen fans. 🙂
I’m so thankful that you wrote this story and published it, Jessie! It is beautifully done and I love not only the exquisite romance between Darcy and Elizabeth, but also the creative twists you have added to Jane’s and Bingley’s tale!
Thank you for yet another great review, Meredith. You make your really ‘thumbs-up-positive’ reviews make me want to get cracking on reading the book (it’s been in my TBR for a month or so!!) without any spoilers to speak of. At least I don’t think you gave too much away.
I can’t wait to read the new character Lady Sinclair. I too like to have more Jane and Bingley show up in the plot. Sometimes they are completely ignored. But then, since they are such lovable ,sweet natured characters that it takes a clever writer to find those ‘hairline cracks’ you mentioned. I’m really looking forward to reading this very soon!
LOL! I’m glad my evil plan is working. 😉 I try hard not to give away any spoilers. Hopefully I didn’t in this review.
Lady Sinclair is a hoot! She is like the Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey but saucier! 😉 I agree and I commend Ms. Lewis on making such character developments not only plausible but also ones that make sense.
wonderful review!
denise
Thank you, friend!
Beautiful review… I also loved it. Well done!!!
Thank you! I appreciate you checking it out!
Sounds like an incredible book; I loved your enthusiastic review, Meredith!! I hope to read this one if you have another ARC giveaway; the price is too steep for my book budget. I love the idea of Jane and Bingley having similar misunderstandings to Elizabeth and Darcy’s. Crossing my fingers for a sale or winning an ARC!
Maybe it will go on sale at some point? I’ve seen other Meryton Press books do that. It is definitely a very worthy read!
A justly deserved fantastic review. It’s great to know that other readers enjoyed and undertood the book as much as I did. And for those who are still to read it – you will LOVE Mrs Sinclair! Enjoy!
Another excellent review Meredith! Sounds like another one for the reading list…
I really enjoyed this book…but I wanted to shake Bingley soundly. LOL Great review (as usual).
Great review, Meredith. I was able to get hold of this when Meryton Press had their sale over the New Year period, so it’s been sitting on my TBR list ever since. One day……..so many books……….
Such a lovely review, Meredith. So happy you loved this as much as I did. Wonderful book, and so beautifully written. Hilarious in places, heartrending in others, exquisite. Same as you, I’m only sorry I haven’t read it sooner. Loved it.
Agree–terrific novel!