What If Wickham Left Lydia Stranded Between Brighton and Gretna Green?
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Gift from Friend
TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice novella about a secondary character
THE PREMISE: It turns out Wickham can only tolerate so much of Lydia’s chattering during their escape from Brighton, especially when she is not of mind to permit any liberties… After Wickham unceremoniously kicks Lydia out of the coach, she must fend for herself and find her way home – all without any funds or connections. Lydia’s adventures away from home are nothing like the laughingly “good joke she thought they’d be…
MY THOUGHTS: La! The party don’t start ’til Lydia walks in… Even though she can be exasperating, whiny, self-centered, and shallow I love reading stories about Lydia Bennet. Especially when they are like this one, and readers see Lydia face new situations and challenges.
Lydia forced to face her own insignificance and realize how privileged and spoiled she is? Love that journey for her! What a satisfying tale! Lydia is left friendless, penniless, and resourceless. She is forced to face rough living conditions, deprivations, and unyielding authority figures. And all these conditions force Lydia to open her eyes and transform. She learns so much about the world, about men, and about how selfish and spoiled she has been. But like her sister, Elizabeth, Lydia can be headstrong and determined, and she decides to make the best of her situation. That is until an unexpected and dreamy rescue arrives…(Side Note: Lydia’s experience for me felt a little reminiscent of Bridget Jones’s in Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason. I really loved seeing the friends she made and her consideration for them later.)
This novella delivered on all accounts. There was adventure, tension, reflection, character growth, a determined hero, and some romance. I love how the focus was divided between Lydia and Darcy/Elizabeth. For those who might miss getting their Darcy and Elizabeth fix, there are plenty of scenes with these two while Elizabeth visits Lambton with the Gardiners. Annother aspect of this story I greatly appreciated was the realism imbued with Lydia’s circumstances. Grace Gibson subtlety reminds readers of the dangers and disadvantages for unprotected and uneducated women living during this time period.
I was so delighted to see dear Lydia’s recklessness lead to a rewarding tale of redemption in this riveting saga! Reckless, Headstrong Girl is a marvelous and uplifting tale about facing your faults and becoming better! I highly recommend for readers who want to see Lydia Bennet improve!
Oh I now want to read it!
Added it to my to read list.
Agree with everything said here. I loved this book. I have a love/hate relationship with Lydia, depending on how she’s written. I’m either reminded that she is, at the end of the day, just a 15 year-old girl, or I can’t stand her. Grace Gibson made her actions very believable, yet we were able to be sympathetic to her plight. And yes, the moments with Darcy were absolutely perfect. So far, everything Grace Gibson writes is pure gold. Her latest, The Last House in Lambton, is also a work of JA-Variation art.
Hi Patty – I really appreciate your very kind and encouraging words. They mean so much to me. Best wishes for the holidays and thank you!
Great review! It sounds like a fun read, I’ll have to look for it.
I have to read this book!
I would be honored, Suzan– thank you!
I have had this in my kindle for ages and keep pushing it down my list. Maybe I will dust it off for 2023. Thank you for the inspiring review.
Hello Sam! After the dust settles, I hope you enjoy reading about Lydia’s reformation. Happy holidays!
I’m not usually Lydia’s greatest fan! But I did get to like her in this story. She definitely grew up fast. Of course the Darcy and Elizabeth time was greatly appreciated! Loved it.
I am delighted you enjoyed this story, Glynis. Hope you have a lovely holiday season!
I too am not typically enamored with Lydia, or frankly with the focus on any other characters except ODC in JAFF. But knowing this book was from Grace Gibson, I had to give it a try—and it certainly didn’t disappoint. What a compelling story! And so much in-depth character development. I also loved The Last House in Lambton. What a wonderful writer Grace Gibson is. As far as I’m concerned, all of her books are 5-star reads!
Thank you so much Christine. I am so blessed and honored to have appreciative readers like you. Happy holidays!
I truly appreciate this review, Meredith. Of all the stories I have written, I had the most fun writing about Lydia’s reformation. Maybe that is because I still have an ‘inner teenager’ who enjoys getting some airtime. I am thrilled you introduced your readers to this little novella – Thank you so very much! Happy holidays and I
look forward to your blog in 2023!
Great review. I also read and reviewed this story – 5 stars from me also.
I really appreciate the depth and insight in your reviews, Sheila. Thank you so much! Hope you have a lovely holiday season and many excellent reads in 2023.
Excellent review, Meredith.
Writing a Lydia story is hard business. This story was perfection. I loved – Loved – LOVED every bit of it. Oh-My-Gosh! I cringed, shuddered, rolled my eyes, laughed, and finally cheered over this version of Lydia. Oh, man, I nearly cried when she had only one request… she wanted her sister, not her mother, not her father, but her sister Elizabeth. That was a powerful moment. Any big sister can relate. I only had brothers but I was the oldest and a second mom to the youngest. It hit me especially hard. Whew! I already own the book and may have to read it again. Blessings.
Thank you! – your reviews are always a delight to read and so very insightful! It was wonderful to learn that you resonated with Lydia’s need for her big sister and that you fulfilled that role for your brothers. Makes me happy to think of it! Happy holidays!
I absolutely agree with you! I loved this book! Grace Gibson has become one of my all-time favorite authors. She writes realistic conversations, realistic situations, and realistic emotional journeys. My only complaint is that I wish she wrote twice as many books each year (actually I would be happy with three times as many — or, maybe that should be four times as many).
Oh Jan, if only inspiration would strike four times a year, I would oblige you! Writing is a guilty pleasure for me and readers like you make it so very satisfying. Thank you!
This is such an insightful and in depth review, Meredith. You hit the nail on the head. 🙂 There were so many wonderful things about this story, even if was a short one. I agree with everything you said, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the novella as much as I did!
Grace Gibson is a wonderful writer and this book is exceptional, as are all of her stories. But I have simply overdosed on Lydia’s and Wickham’s excapades. That is one worn-out storyline. At least this book handles the situation differently.
Thanks Meredith for your insightful review. If I had to read some novel focused in Lydia I would choose this one without a doubt. As you say, I want to see Lydia improve and only facing difficulties is the way for changing 😉
Thanks Grace for this satisfying story about Lydia!
Happy weekend 🙂
You are so welcome, Teresa! I am glad you enjoyed reading it. Happy holidays!
As much as Lydia frustrates and disgusts me at times, I hate reading Wickham’s cruelty of her. But let’s face it his plans for Lydia were always abandonment if he didn’t get what he wanted from Darcy with his maneuver. As silly and gullible as she is she doesn’t deserve a predator like ‘the snake’ to snatch her up at age 15 and dump her in the slums off the side of the road.
I do really l love a Lydia story where she triumphs and reforms. Triumph was hardly won in this story. Beautiful tough/love story by a favorite author. Just finished ‘Last House in Lambton’ over the weekend and I can’t wait for you to read that, Meredith. Your reviews are a joy to read. Sorry this is so late. What a month. 🙂