Balls, Bets, and Beaux Abound in London

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Source: Purchased

TYPE OF NOVEL: Emma/Pride and Prejudice/Mansfield Park Mash-Up Variation

SERIES: Highbury Variation #2

NOTE: This book includes enough brief recaps about events that took place in From Highbury With Love for readers to jump in with this book. But I’d still recommend reading the first book prior to reading this one for a better and deeper understanding.

THE PREMISE:

After a season in Highbury where engagements were made and subsequently broken, a few of our Highbury friends move on to London for various reasons. Elizabeth Bennet is visiting with her relations in Cheapside and Jane Fairfax has accepted a governess position with a wealthy family. Both women are recovering from being crossed in love and have some disappointed hopes, but little do they know that some men from their past will once again cross their paths…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Continuing and Expanding: One of the elements I enjoyed the most about From Highbury With Love was how well the characters and conflicts of Pride and Prejudice blended so well with those of Emma. And not only did that continue to be true for this second book, but it also was expanded to include even more characters and conflicts – this time from Mansfield Park. The storylines intersect soon after the Henry and Maria scandal, Tom Bertram is recovering from his illness, and things are unresolved between Mary Crawford and Edmund.

• Broken Hearts and Broken Engagements: I love that Elizabeth and Jane Fairfax are going through it together. Sisterhood, solidarity, and support at its finest. And Elizabeth is so great for Jane, she is the advocating, genuine, and outgoing friend Jane needs. I really enjoyed the spotlight on this relationship and how it developed. It was great to witness Jane open up more to others.

• All The Single Ladies: With Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy, and Miss Crawford added to the scene, there is a bevy of unattached women in London together. And these single women seem to encounter each other a lot – with balls, dance lessons, walks in the parks. Friends and foes, suitors and scandals, rumors and romances – there is a lot keeping these ladies busy. Their interactions, relationships, and storylines were all very well done.

• Heirs and Reprobates: There is an interesting assortment of privileged and wealthy single men in this story. Some of them are completely honorable, some of them have acted selfishly and negligently in the past, and some are still acting like the world is theirs for the taking. I enjoyed the similarities and contrasts of these men – how even though they are of similar age and class, they each had different upbringings, different challenges, and different behaviors.

• A Redemption Arc: And speaking of our wealthy and privileged heirs, there is one that gets redeemed and I absolutely loved this. We spent a lot of time in his head and his evolution to improve, be more responsible, and do right by others was wonderful to witness. I found the journey very plausible. I liked the thoughtfulness behind this character’s actions – he isn’t a saint, he didn’t do a complete 180, he denies that he is anything good and worthy. He is simply a man who has had his eyes opened and is now trying to take more responsibility. And that includes thinking of others and speaking out against anything he thinks is wrong. I very much admired this character and his development. Very well done!

WHAT COULD’VE BEEN BETTER:

• Small Quibbles: The Darcy and Elizabeth storyline was maybe too little and too quickly-moving for me. While I am happy with the outcome, I wish we had more of a journey to get there. In addition, maybe some spots in the story felt a little slow going.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

🤔  What truly is the better course for Jane Fairfax – becoming a governess or being married to Frank Churchill?

🪭 A diverting, eventful, and engaging sojourn to London leads to secrets, scandals, surprises…

📖  We’ve been to Highbury and London, and it looks like our next journey is taking us to Pemberley – can’t wait!

Add to Cart   I   Add to Shelf