The Unexpected Miss Bennet

by Patrice Sarath

Pride and Prejudice's Mary Bennet gets her own story...
The third of five daughters, Miss Mary Bennet is a rather unremarkable girl. With her countenance being somewhere between plain and pretty and in possession of no great accomplishments, few expect the third Bennet daughter to attract a respectable man. But although she is shy and would much prefer to keep her nose stuck in a book, Mary is uncertain she wants to meekly follow the path to spinsterhood set before her.

Determined that Mary should have a chance at happiness, the elder Bennet sisters concoct a plan. Lizzy invites Mary to visit at Pemberley, hoping to give her sister a place to grow and make new acquaintances. But it is only when Mary strikes out independently that she can attempt to become accomplished in her own right. And in a family renowned for its remarkable Misses, Mary Bennet may turn out to be the most wholly unexpected of them all...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Regency, Chick Lit, Retellings

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Patrice Sarath is an author and editor living in Austin, Texas. Her novels include the fantasy books The Sisters Mederos (Book I of the Tales of Port Saint Frey), the series Books of the Gordath (Gordath Wood, Red Gold Bridge, and The Crow God's Girl) and the romance The Unexpected Miss Bennet. 

Patrice is the author of numerous short stories that have appeared in several magazines and anthologies, including Weird Tales, Black Gate, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Realms of Fantasy, and many others. Her short story "A Prayer for Captain La Hire" was included in Year's Best Fantasy of 2003 compiled by David Hartwell and Katherine Cramer. Her story "Pigs and Feaches," originally published in Apex Digest, was reprinted in 2013 in Best Tales of the Apocalypse by Permuted Press.

Patrice is an avid horsewoman. She also enjoys bike-riding, rollerblading, and hiking the woods and trails outside Austin. She can often be found writing at her neighborhood coffee house.

Books:

The Sisters Mederos (2018, Angry Robot Books)
Fog Season (2019, Angry Robot Books)
The Crow God's Girl (2012)
The Unexpected Miss Bennet (2011, Robert Hale and Penguin)
Red Gold Bridge (2009, Penguin Berkley)
Gordath Wood (2008, Penguin Berkley)

Short stories:

A Prayer for Captain La Hire (2002, Black Gate, 2003 Year's Best Fantasy)
Bad Amy (2006, Space Squid)
Bad Dog (2015, Andromeda Spaceways In-Flight Magazine; 2017 Deep Magic)
Blood on the Snow (1999, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine; 2017 Bloodbound)
Ice (2005, Realms of Fantasy)
Into the Dark (2002, Realms of Fantasy)
Lonely Cries the Winter Wind (2008, Edge of Propinquity)
Memories of Gravity (2013, The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance)
More to Glory (2002, Low-Port anthology)
Murder on the Hohmann (2016, Futuristica Vol I)
Pigs and Feaches (2007, Apex Digest, 2013 Best Tales of the Apocalypse)
Pilot's Forge (2009, Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance)
Reparations (2000, Romance & Beyond)
The Djinn Game (1999, Such a Pretty Face)
The Gig in the Hall of Kings (2004, Cafe Ole anthology)
The Lunch Thief (2007, Weird Tales, published as Bagged Lunch)
The Night of Their Conversion (2007, Space Squid)
The Warlord and the Princess (1999, Beyond the Rose, 2002 Andromeda Spaceways)

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might upset the Darcyholics, but I'm drawn more to a Mary Bennet love story than a Darcy and Elizabeth sequel. As much as every woman wants to be Lizzy, I have to be honest and admit that I relate to Mary more than any other Bennet daughter. Sure, she's awkward, pious, and overly serious, but I've always felt that underneath it all, Mary loves her sisters even though she doesn't understand them and they mock her. Not to mention the difficulty growing up as the third behind the otherworldly beauty that is Jane and the intelligence, wit, and beauty that is Elizabeth, then have the unbelievably silly Kitty and Lydia as younger sisters. Poor Mary has been invisible her whole life, in part because of her family, but also because of her own choices.

Patrice Sarath explores those choices in The Unexpected Miss Bennet, a wonderfully written Pride and Prejudice sequel taking place one year after the Bingley/Darcy double wedding. Kitty is off to visit Jane, and consequently London, while Mary remains with her parents. Now alone, Mary begins to take walks, reanalyze her previously coveted Fordyce's Sermons, and stops playing piano. Concerned Mrs. Bennet has given up the search to find Mary a match, Lizzie brings Mary to Pemberly to help with the husband hunt. Like every fun P&P continuation, all our favorite characters must show up in one form or another, so the Darcy household eventually travels to Rosings where Mary begins an unusual connection with Anne de Bourgh and is given a tough life choice. Will Mary Bennet ever find love or will she remain the quiet girl in the corner with the serious countenance?

~

In three words: I loved it.

Sarath did an excellent job diving into the motivation and backstory of Mary Bennet, allowing us readers to watch her evolution and realize misgivings as well as strengths. Though the story lacked much drama (despite a small reference to the infamous Wickhams) and held few surprises, it's truly a character piece and kept me turning page after page to witness Mary Bennet go from girl to woman. In addition, Sarath gives Mr. Bennet a supporting role, I believe, as a chance to redeem himself from his P&P reputation as an indifferent father favoring only Lizzy. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Anne de Bourgh and Mary. However, the rest of the characters felt underdeveloped.

In addition, the romance didn't quite make sense and was rather sudden, though the book is a fast read and could've benefited from even more content. Yet the themes and lessons throughout made me think and I even earmarked several pages with excellent quotations. The story overall was sweet and enjoyable, but if you're one who loves lots of action in your Regency reads, this isn't the book for you. And while I mentioned the Wickham cameo above, it did feel a bit contrived, as if Sarath's editor wanted her to add more conflict so she threw Lydia in at the last minute.

All in all, this is the second Mary Bennet romance I've had the pleasure of reading and I'm thrilled I stumbled upon it in Barnes & Noble. It's a great addition to any JAFF library and is on my re-read list.... in fact, I almost started it over when I finished!

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest in saying: I did not expect to like this book. My mom gave it to me, swearing I'd enjoy it. I never should have doubted.

Mary Bennet was probably the Bennet sister I related to the least. But along comes Patrice Sarath with a fantastic character arc, a SUPER likeable male protagonist, and some sass. Boom! I'm a Mary Bennet fan.

Another concern every die hard classic fan will inevitably have is that the new installation pays homage and respect to the original. I think the author was able to accomplish that as well.

Fun, quick, comforting read. This is the perfect read for a fuzzy blanket and warm mug of something on a rainy day.

I'd rate this book a G.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody wants to write a P&P sequel or prequel or reimagining, and the results vary wildly in quality. This one is is actually rather good, striking me as consistent in tone and character with the original. The prose is not transporting, but it is accessibly modern while remaining appropriately modest. I don’t think Sarath is the great, trail-blazing writer that Austen was, but I do think she has made a story here that is a believable and entertaining homage and sequel to Pride and Prejudice that any Austen fan could be pleased to read.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, the heroine of this Pride and Prejudice sequel is quite unexpected. Though for my part, the unexpectedness was not so much who she was as much as what she did- which I think was the point too.

This is the tale of the middle Bennet daughter- plain, awkward, socially gauche Mary who appears to be as noticeable as the wallpaper when her older and younger sisters were around. But this tale picks up when it is just Mary and Kitty left at home. It is a victorious story of Mary truly and finally coming into her own through a series of circumstances. The real Mary is one that her family and acquaintances will not only sit up and take notice of, but respect and accept for being her own person.

The story is more of a journey of a girl who sees her unhappy circumstances and steps out on faith trusting that change, albeit painful and frightening, must come. She journeys to Pemberley where she dances at a ball for her first time and surprises her sister Lizzy with a new quieter Mary who need not exhibit herself whether on the instrument or in song. She then journeys to Rosings where she quietly makes decisions for herself and eventually stands against Lady C, the Collins and even her new friend Anne. The last third of the book comes after her seeming downfall and return to Longbourn. Mary has learned the importance of so many things including family and to value herself, but could the journey have brought her true love at last? Can a man truly love and except her the plain unaccomplished Miss Bennet?

The book has most the usual P&P suspects even if some are always referenced off scene. There are secondary storylines involving the other Bennet sisters. But the author created a wonderful new character in Mr. Thomas Aikens. I adored his enthusiasm and freshness that was true to himself even in the face of Lady Catherine's displeasure. I think everyone will love meeting him in the story. I appreciated the fact that the author did not try to remake Austen's characters and worked with her Mary to realistically show her growth into a lovely woman. The plot and resolution was very much within keeping with the original too.

Wonderful read for any Jane Austen lover!

[Susan Scribner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd little P&P sequel that focuses on the middle Bennet sister, Mary. While it is gratifying to watch Mary come into her own and gain confidence as she loses her priggishness (and "Fordyce's Sermons" along the way), there is no chemistry between the heroine and the man that author Sarath pairs her with. I think she was going for an "opposites attract" vibe, but it fails utterly, leaving the reader to wonder how much happiness Mary will truly find in her happy ending. On the plus side, the book is well-written and thankfully chaste (I cannot deal with those P&P sequels or adaptations that include explicit sex scenes between Elizabeth & Darcy).

[Teresita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

An enchanting telling of how Mary Bennet found herself, from her introspection after the weddings of two of her sisters and the elopment of the youngest one, through several decisions that gave her clarity, to find her own place in the world.

[Anna]

Check out my review on Diary of an Eccentric

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I'm going to start by saying that I am sure there are truly many who would enjoy this book. I am not, however, one of them. With that in mind:

Oh boy... I am so disappointed because I thought, what a clever idea to write a story for Mary! Unfortunately, this attempt did not live up to my expectations. I should mention that Jane Austen is far and away my favorite author, so I have rather high standards when it comes to books that try to imitate. Understanding this is why I went ahead and gave this book two stars instead of one.

That aside, this was a difficult book for me to get through. The author tried to write in Ms. Austen's style but either did not research language use in that time or did not pay close enough attention. Furthermore, the British spelling for words was often, but not always used, an inconsistency which was distracting. In addition to language, this book got many mannerisms wrong for the period. For example, female characters in this book always stood to curtsy greeting to someone, even below their own station. Such lapses in consistency increased my own distraction from the story itself.

Then there was, of course, the story itself. I felt that many of the characters were treated unfairly in their depiction, including Mary. There was the side story with Kitty that needed to either be further developed or left out entirely. The entire thing read more like a piece of fan fiction, or even a caricature, you might find posted on a website somewhere.

Again -- I have very high standards for any piece of writing that would hope to attach itself to Jane Austen's work. If you do not have such high standards in that regard and are looking for a fun twist sequel to Pride and Prejudice, you may very well enjoy this book.

[Elaine Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. The author writes well enough. So many historical novels suffer when the authors writing is too contemporary. There is definite room for improvement but she did try to stay true to Ms Austen's style . The author did reuse some passages from Pride and Prejudice which I found jarring but it is easy enough to overlook. I had a few issues with Mary herself. The character changed so drastically as to barely resemble Mary Bennet from Austen's novel. This is explained away but it wasn't completely convincing. The romance wasn't very convincing either. I LOVED Mary's beaux. Unfortunately they spent so little time together, far less then Lizzy and Darcy, it seems unreasonable they could have formed an attachment. But in the end the story was very entertaining and I enjoyed it.

Edit: Why was Kitty's "story" even written into Mary's? Nothing came of it. It should have been omitted or expanded!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Pride & Prejudice sequel where Mary Bennet is starting to feel dissatisfied with her life, so Jane and Elizabeth decide it time for her to leave Longbourn, and stay at Pemberley for a long visit. But the fates intervene and with Mary still unsure who she is, decides to take up an offer that would give her independence from the other Bennets.
A very enjoyable sequel, with a lovely writing style. I like this Mary and the introduction of a new character.
Another entertaining re-read

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Bennet, that plain, pedantic, priggish, middle sister from Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice, who gave us such deadpan lines as, “I admire the activity of your benevolence…but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required.” (Chapter 7) is explored in this new sequel by Patrice Sarath. How Mary could be made into a heroine the caliber of her elder sister Elizabeth, we shall soon discover.
Her intimate story is a sojourn from Longbourn, to Pemberley, to Rosings, back to Longbourn and finally to_________? Feeling betrayed by all of her favorite pursuits that formerly brought meaning to her life, nothing is spared from her frustrated scrutiny: not the pianoforte, not her singing, and not even her book of sermons. “Perhaps she should not rest all of her hopes on Fordyce. He had been a good a good guide, but a narrow one, and she had begun, if not to walk a different path, then to at least question the mapmaker.” (p. 27)

It’s been a year since the other Bennet daughters have married. Kitty has “come out” and will spend the summer with the Bingleys. Will “plain” Mary ever attract a suitor or just become an old maid? Jane and Lizzy plot to bring her to Pemberley for the summer to “improve” her. Lizzy tells Darcy of the plan: “You have the look of mischief about you,” Mr Darcy said. “Much as when we first met and exchanged words. Have I need to fear?” “Not at all” she said. “I merely came to warn you that I am my mother’s daughter after all. Jane and I are prepared to make a match for Mary.” (p. 9) However, has Mary already encountered a “match?” Perhaps…..

Poor Mary despairs of anyone ever sincerely paying attention to her. Prior to her Pemberley visit, she plays the pianoforte at a dance. Mary, who has zero experience with men, is asked to dance by a young gentleman named Tom Aikens. Ms. Sarath has brilliantly fashioned a most unforgettable and loveable hero, much in the mold of another popular hero nicknamed “Turnip,” in Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series. Mr. Aikens is everything Mary is not: vigorous, outgoing, brash, unkempt, unread, and most-often found on horseback. Shy, bookish Mary is a magnet to Mr. Aikens who pursues her from Pemberley to Rosings and back to Longbourn. But, is he destined to lose interest, due to her own self-doubting confusion over how he could possibly like her?

The principals eventually all show up at Rosings: Mary, the Darcys (including Georgiana), the Collins’s and even Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrive to deliver Mary’s trunk. Mary finally meets the enigmatic Anne. At first, Mary thinks Anne to be intellectually deficient. “Understanding pierced her and she felt a great and sudden sorrow. She had been right. Anne De Bourgh was simple, and all of Lady Catherine’s bluster, all of her posturing and praise on behalf of daughter, was to deny herself the knowledge.” (p. 85) It turns out that Anne is not all that simple but overly protected and sequestered away. Becoming friends, they improve each other to the point that Lady Catherine asks Mary to become Anne’s companion and stay at Rosings. But the grand lady continually seeks to discover a breech in Mary’s behavior that will bring social condemnation on the entire Bennet family. Alas, the inevitable blunder in propriety finally occurs. Will this end Mary’s friendship, destroy her budding self-esteem, banish her from Rosings and ostracize her from polite society forever? Further, there is an ironic and shocking surprise near the conclusion.

I can explain my love for this story in a single word: AUTHENTICITY. Ms. Sarath faithfully renders all of our favorite P&P characters, vividly accentuates the dangerous social pitfalls for women of that time, and delivers the Regency style “lingo” that we all crave. In contrast to Miss Austen’s exquisitely long sentences is this author’s style which occasionally links a series of short sentences together which impart drama, action, and clarity to the story. The author also sprinkles gems of charming humor throughout, especially in Mary’s secret thoughts which show her innate intelligence, despite her lack of social awareness. Where Lizzy talks with complete candor, Mary converses politely and appropriately, but the author simultaneously reveals Mary’s very contrary private opinions which are highly amusing.
Author Patrice Sarath’s The Unexpected Miss Bennet, has cleaved me from my objectivity! Why? The story exactly and uncannily fulfills my daydreaming heart’s projected future for this most unappreciated and neglected Bennet sister. In the face of such a coincidental affirmation, how could I not pronounce this delightful little 224 page story one of the very best Austen sequels I have ever read?

[Laura Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book so much. It’s a book I will come back to because I loved being with these characters again and everything is so well done. Massive kudus to Patrice Sarath for recreating the Bennet world so flawlessly and gorgeous. Mary Bennet is a bad ass and I’m so happy she got her own book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to follow up with Mary, as opposed to seeing more continuations starring the Darcys. I overall enjoyed it, though I didn't feel the storytelling was that tight. I really don't understand why Darcy puts up with his aunt being so rude to his wife and her family - yes, she's really proud and due a certain amount of respect, but respect does not mean you just accept whatever crap she metes out. Quite frankly, she could do with a set down. Mr. Collins needs a kick in the pants. Since none of them are dependent on any of these people, I don't see why they have to put up with their poor behavior. At the very least, if I was being lectured on my poor manners, I'd mention what poor manners it is to point out other people's manners.

There were some inconsistencies that bugged me. Mary realized at one point that Anne was slow, but later it seems that Anne is just totally cowed by her mother. Mrs. Jenkinson is "restored to her former place" at the end, but it is actually Anne that wanted her dismissed in the first place, so if the new Anne is standing up for herself, why re-hire a companion she didn't want? Lizzy feels bad that Mr. Aikens is right about them giving up on Mary...but Mary INSISTED on staying with Anne, against their advice! And what happened to Jane and Lizzy plotting to help Mary find a husband? How did that get tossed aside so easily? Charlotte seemed fine in the beginning, tired from her new baby but exasperated by her husband, but at the end it basically says she's totally changed and is judgmental like he is. What? Also, I don't see why the Lucas family would be cold to the Bennet family just because their daughters argued. Quite frankly, Charlotte's family doesn't seem to like Mr. Collins either - and just because your kids have a tiff (that you're not even there for, and isn't going to affect you), why throw off a lifelong friendship? Mary is consistently described as "plain" but in the beginning it says all the Bennet girls are the prettiest in the neighborhood. What happened to Kitty's (stupid) plan to hang out with Lydia? What about these tigers? I felt like Lydia's story was unfinished, because it says she's pregnant, Lizzy thinks that might reconcile her with the dad, he says no, and then...nothing. I mean, he basically says Lydia isn't their daughter anymore, and then that's it. It felt like there should have been more.

I was disappointed because I really expected Mary to stand up to Lady Catherine at least a small amount, and to tell off Mr. Collins (he annoyed me enough that I started thinking that Mr. Bennet should get rid of his wife, remarry, and have a son just to spite him). Instead she manages to tell off Charlotte, go home under a cloud of shame, and apparently marry a farmer. I somehow missed that Mr. Aikens was a simple farmer earlier...I mean, he was friends with Darcy and traveled all over, so that didn't seem quite right (I went back and it said he was from a respectable family and inherited a small estate. How is that simply "a farmer?"). He couldn't concentrate long enough to read OR listen to a book, so I was baffled that he wanted Mary to continue reading when he couldn't seem to listen. I also expected Georgiana to confide her previous indiscretion to Mary, so that she would understand all the weird remarks that were made.

I don't know. I still enjoyed it, but there were a LOT of things that bugged me too.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a wonderful continuation/spin-off of Pride and Prejudice. It focuses primarily on Mary with a little bit about the other characters. I liked the focus on Mary who is the forgotten sister. I can relate to her shyness and bookishness. While I can't relate to her sermonizing and her reasons behind it or some of the decisions she makes, I can empathize with her. She's entirely likeable and sympathetic. She's not a drama queen middle child but a quiet one, lost in the middle. She's not a girl anymore and she faces and uncertain future and is determined to meet it on her own terms. Her suitor is very unexpected as well. I liked him a lot. The romance is very quiet and not really very present. It's closer to a meeting of the minds, as Georgette Heyer would call it, but not. Those looking for grand sweeping passion and heat, look elsewhere. Mary remains true to herself. That is what I loved most about this novel, that the characters were all true to Jane Austen's creations. Each one, except Mary, acted as they had at the finale of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Collins is especially spot-on obnoxious! There is one exception, whose personality turns out to be a welcome surprise and an unexpected friend for Mary. There are a few minor bumps in the story but I enjoyed the story so much I forgot that some things were mentioned once or twice and never again. This is Mary's coming-of-age story and she grows and changes as a result of her experiences and reflections on them. Another wonderful thing about this novel is that it captures the tone of Jane Austen's writing while not copying it exactly or writing from an 1813 dictionary. The novel reads more like a young adult book than a classic Jane Austen novel but I liked the style. The writing flows smoothly and is easy to read. Janeites from teens on up will enjoy this wonderful story. I hope to read more from this author in the future. I would like to see Kitty, Georgiana and Anne's stories told.

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a follow on to Pride and Prejudice focussing on Mary Bennet. Personally, I've never been much of a fan of hers but I have a small addiction to these type of books so I gave it a go, and am very glad I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's written in a pretty good take on Austen's style, I didn't notice anything that was particularly out of place either with language or the behaviour of the characters so that was nice.

The book picks up in the year or so following the marriage of the elder Miss Bennets. Mary has begun to feel dissatisfied with her life; she always strove to be the accomplished Miss Bennet and feels like she hasn't achieved it and she has begun to yearn for something more in her life. It makes sense, as with four other sisters you'd have to fight for your role and with three of them gone in such quick succession it would leave a hole in your life and leave you re-evaluating things. Jane has got Kitty with her for a visit to London so she enlists Lizzy to give Mary a change of scenery. I thought the author did a very good job in bringing Mary to life, she doesn't get much page time in P&P and what she does get isn't complimentary but I felt sorry for Mary, and could certainly understand her feeling a bit lost. As she begins to find her feet and understand who she is Mary gains self esteem, self knowledge and even a sense of humour. The only downside I felt this book has is that there is a romance in it which develops a bit too rapidly for my taste, I felt it could do with more fleshing out. Not worth losing a star for though.

A lot of these Austen-inspired books take massive liberties with style, language and events but I felt that all were true to the original P&P, I would say even an Austen purist could try this without too much trepidation. It's a shame it's not available on Kindle though!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice P&P variation, following the fortunes of Miss Mary Bennett, the 'plain' sister. Mary is forced to consider her life after the marriages of her three sisters and losing Mr Collins to Charlotte (although during the course of the book, she does come to realise this was a very lucky escape).During a visit to Rosings, she unexpectedly finds herself acting as a companion to Anne de Bourgh, something which reinforces her loyalty to her own family.
All the usual characters are here, most strongly Lizzy and Darcy, Mr & Mrs Bennet and of course the de Bourgh ladies. Jane, Bingley, Wickham and Lydia are more offstage but fairly important to the action. The only character the author seems slightly unsure what to do with is Kitty.
What really makes this book, though, is Mr Aikens who is the love interest. He is a VERY original sort of suitor in this sort of novel but, to me, he is absolutely perfect for Mary - not particularly handsome nor overly wealthy, you still just know he and Mary are going to be very happy together.
A very satisfying read in which this secondary character really comes into her own

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, as I never really felt that Mary got her due in P&P. I think Mary had realistic and very relatable insecurities and inner dialogue. I'm not convinced about her love interest, they just don't seem well suited for each other, but I suppose that was the whole point because everyone thinks she a Mr. Collins would've been well suited. I'm glad that Mary's character was able to develop and change, but I think she might've changed too much. She was still a worthwhile character in P&P and I'm not sure she maintained any of her original characteristics except for maybe quietness and her love of reading. I just wish, for example, that at the end of the book we got to see her enjoying playing the pianoforte in her new life like she was thinking about doing again. Or, we could've seen her reading Fordyce and debating it with her husband and coming to new conclusions together (which would never happen, which is why their romance seems a bit off to me). These things were integral to her character, and it's nice to see new things added throughout the book, but I don't want to see everything lost, I want to see them integrated into a more complete person.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever given thought to what Longbourn was like after Jane and Elizabeth left? Have you ever wondered how Mary and Kitty got on with each other? Do you think with three daughters married – two of them very well established – Mrs. Bennet's nerves have settled a little? (nah!)

Where most Pride and Prejudice sequels focus on Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam, The Unexpected Miss Bennet – an absorbing and inviting sequel by Patrice Sarath – uniquely follows the oft forgotten and little loved Mary Bennet and tells the story of her life at Longbourn post-Pride and Prejudice. Because poor Mary does not flirt, dance, or have beaus, it is assumed by her family that she has no interest in matrimony and most likely will never marry. Because of Jane and Elizabeth's successful matches, Mrs. Bennet is really not that worried about finding Mary a match. In fact she is quite content with the idea of Mary remaining at home and becoming a spinster.

To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...

[Shiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I hadn’t expected to enjoy it as thoroughly as I did. I couldn’t put it down. Sarath managed to keep all of Jane’s beloved characters just as they were: Jane’s beloved characters. It was light, fun, and romantic without being cheesy.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel to Pride and Prejudice!

Mr. Aikens was a refreshing character. I feel the story could have done without Catherine and Anne de Bourgh as well as Wickham or Lydia in the book but I guess the author wanted to add all the original characters. Worth reading if you like P&P.

[Maddy Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Mr. Aikens was adorable. The author really understood the characters and it truly felt like another story in that world.

[Miguelina Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ms. Sarath’s “The Unexpected Miss Bennet” Mary Bennet gets her happy ending, but not before going through her own journey of self-alienation and then –discovery. Miss Bennet has often been portrayed as the least appealing of the Bennet girls.

Ms. Sarath’s Mary is quite plain, indeed, and because of her overzealous faith in God brings about her own self-alienation from her family and society ― like Jeremiah, who had peace with God, but was very lonely in the world; for in his day, very few people followed the Lord.

While it is assumed that the other key characters, with the exception of Lady de Bourgh, were Christians, none of their faiths were to the extent of those given to Mary’s Bennet’s character; whose consistent sermonizing and self-righteous attitude kept everyone at bay. Even Mr. Collins, a man of the cloth, who chooses to openly worship Lady de Bourgh more than God, himself, does not suffer from such self-alienation, perhaps because he is focused more on a materialistic world and not a spiritual one.

“The Unexpected Miss Bennet” begins with Mrs. Bennet admitting to Jane that after getting Kitty married she would no longer have the energy to marry off Mary. That Mary will remain a comfort for her in her old age. For which then once she passes on, Jane would have to make herself responsible for her unmarried sister. Jane agrees and writes to Lizzy about her concerns for Mary. Lizzy designs a plan to have Mary stay with her for a while hoping to introduce her into society.

In the meantime, during a party Mary is playing the piano while a group danced when a young man comes by and asks her if she is not too tired of playing. In her usual manner, Mary responds ‘Music is the balm that comforts our soul,’ Mr. Aikens is unaffected by her comment, where as any otther young man would have thought her strange. He tells her that he could never sit still long enough to do something over and over. He then invites her to dance and find out which one was more exhilarating, dancing or playing music. Mary is about to reply, when Maria Lucas intervenes, telling Mr. Aikens that ‘Mary doesn’t dance – if she did we would have no one to play…’ The young man is then forced to dance with Maria. Mary takes a moment from the keys of the piano to watch them dance.

In this scene we begin to see that this is the end of the Mary, we have grown to know, and a new Mary, who begins to question herself and faith, emerges. The piano no longer holds interest to Mary, nor do the sermons from Fordyce that once brought her comfort. Even days, after the party, Mary is still disturbed by her encounter with Mr. Aikens. Her lack in self-confidence and ardor for her faith in God had for a longtime given her a false sense of fulfillment, which she now begins to question.

Ms. Sarath elegantly begins Mary’s journey into self-discovery and eventual road from a plain girl to a pretty Bennet girl by using vivid imagery and well thought out contemplations from Mary about her life, her sisters’ life as married women, marriage, loneliness and family. As Mary communes with nature and make friends, she begins to change physically, emotionally and spiritually. Ms. Sarath is not saying that in order for Mary to have become pretty she needed to give up on her faith, but rather through self-discovery as a child of God and her desire to be find a happiness that had for so long eluded her, she becomes whole – hence a physical manifestation takes place. And it is through this wholeness, she succeeds freeing herself from her self-imposed prison. Hence, freeing herself not only to love, but to have a healthy relationship with God.

The author’s writing is filled with wonderful thoughts, emotions and vibrant characters, as she captures Jane Austen’s characters from Pride and Prejudice, almost as if her hand was being guided by none other than Ms. Austen herself. She keeps true to the language of the period and the angst felt by the women of that era on finding a husband, leading a life of loneliness or hoping that some relative would take pity on her and hence providing her with a home in her old age.

This story is sure to become a classic among Austen fans. There is more to the story including the hateful Lady de Bourgh and her daughter Anne. Even Mr. Darcy makes an appearance, but in order for me to tell more, it would no longer be a book review, but perhaps a dissertation. I mean that in the most respectful way, because Ms. Sarath raises a lot issues about the anxieties of a self-righteous society and its expectations, which I am pretty sure would make an excellent paper. Who knows I may be up to the challenge. I had initially download the Kindle version for this book, but after reading it, I thought my library merited a hard copy.

[Abi Demina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable P&P continuation with Mary Bennet as the protagonist.

I've read a few continuations / variations with Mary as the central character and I believe this one to be the most like something Austen would have written herself.

Mary's character undergoes change and improvement, but by her own hand and her own observations, not through the encouragement of newly married Jane or Lizzy, which I found far more in keeping with the Mary Bennet of canon.

She has always been a quiet observer and her less admirable traits (the sermonising and showing off despite lack of accomplishments) came about solely as her way of trying to gain a modicum of attention in a family where she is continuously ignored and overlooked.
Once her more favoured siblings are out of the way, Mary realises that she has allowed herself to be labelled as the spinster sister, as the Bennet likely to become a companion to her parents in their old age, and that nobody even expects her to dance or converse. She uses her favourite books and her observations / humiliations to make changes, to lighten her seriousness and go about more in society, and yet her innate goodness, sense, and pride in being a Bennet of Longbourn guide her when she might otherwise lose her nerve or revert to old patterns of behaviour.

She is shown to be wise and naive, modest and proud, kind and thoughtful and a little unsure. Her love interest was unexpected and yet somehow a perfect match for her.

I really enjoyed getting to know Mary Bennet through Patrice Sarath's eyes, and recommend this book to all P&P fans.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give most attempts to write any kind of sequel to Pride and Prejudice a wide berth; however, this book really intrigued me because it was dealing with Mary, who'd I'd never given much thought to. I was really impressed by how she was developed here, how her actions in the original novel can be understood as coming from a young girl that thought she had already figured out how the world worked (see: adolescence and parental neglect), but here she really gets a chance to mature and come into her own. The book also examines some other minor characters in a very interesting light. Her romantic lead was, well, unexpected and I had a bit of difficulty believing the attraction between them, but overall, I thought it was sweet. I'm glad that I read this and it's given me a new perspective for whenever I read P&P again.

2nd read: Still enjoyed it, but I found the love interest a lot more jarring and tacked on this time. Maybe more like a 3.5 stars. I feel like it's sort of a given there needs to be one in an Austen spin off book, but honestly I would've rather seen her relationship develop with Anne more? And I really wish the book did more with Lydia. Every year I get more and more strident in my belief that Lydia deserves better. She's, what, 16 when she marries Wickham? Yikes.

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Original Rating: 4*
My Re-read Rating: 3.5* rounded up

“It is a comforting belief among much of society that a plain girl with a small fortune must have no more interest in matrimony than matrimony has in her.” (quote from the book)

I first read this book back in 2011/2012 before I wrote reviews. I had put a rating of 4 stars in 2016 when I started writing them. I decided to do a re-read as I couldn’t remember the details of this novel. Variations were not as plentiful back then as they are now. My rating slipped a bit, however I decided to round it up.

“She knew what Fordyce would say. He would write that she should accept with humility her limitations and be a true lady, meek and mild. Something within Mary rebelled.” (quote from the book)

This is a sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This is mostly a story about Mary Bennet and how she grows from the pedantic to a woman worthy of being loved. It is a sweet tale, and one I enjoyed.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this sort of sequel to Pride & Prejudice and the decision to focus on Mary. The author did a great job in making it feel almost cannon and although I, of course, wish there had been more Darcy & Elizabeth, I found myself very much enjoying reading about Mary.

I am a fan of most P&P variations, so I admit my bias, but I really enjoyed this. I would have given it all 5 stars if only we had seen more of Mary and Mr Aikens together...the ending felt a bit rushed and I felt a bit cheated. Beyond that though, I loved everything about it.

[Hannah Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An great P&P sequel, but not based on Elizabeth or Darcy. Finally Mary Bennett gets her time in the limelight!
With her sisters married and otherwise occupied, Mary is now forced into the spotlight and evaluates her motivation and gets pushed out of her comfort zone.
She really comes into to her own as an individual. I think the romance plot could have been developed a little more. But is by no means disappointing.
A great, unfortunately obscure, comforting read for any Austenite!

[Louise Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delight of a book, especially for readers who can't get enough of Jane Austin. It's slightly edgier, often funny, sweetly romantic, and completely entertaining. The voice, setting, and characters are all true to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE without--as far as I can tell--violating any of the original story. Highly recommended! I was so sorry when it was over.

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get over Kitty's saying "All right, All right, I won't" on page 16. It just didn't sound like proper diction for the time period. I read a couple more pages, but that sentence kept replaying in my head.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Jane Austen add on I've read. I've always avoided them as I love the originals so much. This was actually very true to the original story and pretty entertaining.