Kiss Me Goodnight, Major Darcy – Georgina Young-Ellis

Devastations and Developments

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Retelling Set During World War II

THE PREMISE: Life is different for our P&P friends: Mr. Bennet is a widow, Elizabeth and Jane work as nurses in a London hospital, Kitty and Lydia volunteer at the same hospital, Mary works for the Women’s Land Army, and Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Wickham all serve in the war. Tragic news brings Captain Bingley and Major Darcy into Jane’s and Elizabeth’s lives. And while they initially stay in contact for support and because of shared grief, their connections and regards for each other continue to grow despite the ravaging war and the unpredictable times they are living in.

WHAT I LOVED:

A New War Featured: With the majority of Jane Austen novels I read, we feel the effects and impact of the Napoleonic Wars in indirectly and subtly. But here is an Austenesque novel where the war is center stage – it is present on every page and touches nearly every aspect of life. And it isn’t just any war – it is the biggest and most devastating war in history. Suffice to say, I am always eager and intrigued to see an Austenesque story set in this time.

Unfamiliar and Challenging: While readers may recognize similar personality traits and plot points, this novel definitely was following its own path outside of canon, AND the story told was one that displayed how our beloved characters cope with the hardships they face. Their conflicts didn’t pertain to entailments, limited marriage prospects, or compromises. Instead we witness these characters face the deaths of loved ones, the destruction of their country and way of life, and fears about what the future holds. I greatly appreciated how the author maintained some familiar elements with this story and yet thoroughly explored new and different territory.

Wartime Backdrop: I really admired how Georgina Young-Ellis created such a vivid wartime backdrop with her story. All the little references made and ways she illustrated the displacement of normal life routine – the clothing characters wore, the food they ate, the long hours they worked, their meagre lack of personal time. It really brought a clear picture of how war can touch and change every aspect of life, and gave readers a deeper understanding of what people who lived during World War II experienced. I especially appreciated how Ms. Young-Ellis was informative and descriptive with her historical backdrop yet tactfully avoided giving the reader a history lesson or lecture.

A Unique Mindset: With what is spoken and unspoken, with how direct and candid some conversations are, with how feelings develop and are disclosed the reader gets the sense of the “we don’t know what tomorrow may bring” mindset people had living during this time. This was especially evident with romantic relationships and how the uncertainty of life and future caused characters to view love and marriage differently. It was a time to be open and direct, and not repress feelings and flirt.

Strong Women: I admire how we see several women in this story think for themselves and not only, evaluate what they want with their lives, but also take the necessary and sometimes unprecedented steps to achieve it. I love all the new ways these characters were growing and developing. Especially Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mary.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

Minor Quibbles: I wouldn’t have minded a bigger moment for Darcy and Eizabeth, or maybe another chapter or epilogue. After the hardships they went through and all the separation they endured, it would have been great to see more about their lives together. Also, I know he is a snake and with that comes dishonest and reprehensible behavior, but I did feel like Wickham was just a little inconsistent. Or at least towards the end he was when he confesses his motives. It just didn’t ring true for the whole story.

CONCLUSION:

Congratulations so Georgina Young-Ellis on this remarkable and praiseworthy Pride and Prejudice retelling. This tale delivers a beautifully blends together the devastation and sacrifices of war with hard-won romances, heartwarming relationships, and unexpected possibilities. I highly recommend.

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8 comments

I loved reading this book. I would definitely recommend this book to P&P readers. So different then the regency ones I love reading.

I also read and reviewed this story. I also recommend it.

I was honored to work with Georgina as content editor on this. Her ideas were so insightful and fit the times. The characters resonated with the war and Canon.

This has been sitting on my TBR for some time – you have definitely piqued my interest enough to bump not up the list

I read this a while ago but I definitely enjoyed it. Although I too would have liked more of ODC at the end (but then I say that about most books!) The setting was a good different, I like WW2 stories especially as my Dad was in the RAF as part of the Pathfinders of Bomber Command on Lancaster bombers.

I loved this book. It was different in all the right ways. Of course, the title caught my attention at first glance! 🙂 Thank you for such a good review, Meredith.

I have had this on my TBR for awhile now and need to bump it up higher. Loved your review, Meredith. I especially like WWII stories that involve the Home Front, rather than the grim horror of the Nazis and the extermination of 20,000,000 people. I read just a few too many of those books from the time I was a Middle School age kid through into my 30’s, until I just burnt out. I’m coming back around to reading that era again but call me weak, I’d rather read about the struggles of everyday people and their sorrows and triumphs. D__n war.