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The Unexpected Miss Bennet

by Patrice Sarath (Goodreads Author)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 129 ratings · 42 reviews

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 stu...more

Paperback, 296 pages

Published December 6th 2011 by Berkley Trade (first published January 1st 2011)

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Apr 29, 2013 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more 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!(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Miguelina Perez rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 peop...more 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.(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will say that I liked this book…but it was sort of a sweet and sour reaction over all. What I did love was seeing how Mary, the bookish wallflower of the Bennet sisters, came into her own as an independent mind that did not hesitate to speak up when necessary. A quote from pg.202: “Even a plain Bennet is a Bennet, and though Mary was used to being over shadowed by her pretty sisters, she was not so plain on her own account”. She blossomed with the help of her adventures out of the house of her...more

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Jul 13, 2012 LuAnn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mary is the third of the five Bennett girls. More plain than her sisters, she never felt she was attractive enough for a man to notice. As her siblings develop relationships and families of her own, she has resigned herself to a lifetime of solitude with her studies and music.
Her sisters have other ideas. They are going to see to it that she doesn’t spend her life alone and set out to change fate. However, little do they know, there is a man who has become quite smitten with Mary and he has his...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen-austenesque, historical-romance

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 t...more 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! (less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Jeffrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

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...more 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?
(less)

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Oct 18, 2011 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen, pride-and-prejudice, favorites

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 forgotte...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Serena rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath tackles the enigmatic figure of Mary Bennet, the third oldest of the Bennet sisters. She’s the one considered unremarkable and religious in the original novel, Pride & Prejudice. Here readers will see the struggles of Mary as she finds that she is often ignored or laughed at on almost every occasion. She turns to sermons and music for solace, though she notes that despite the many hours she spends practicing, she is unable to improve her musical t...more

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Jul 11, 2012 AmyFlo rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this sequel to P&P. Mary isn't a joke as she's written in Austen's original. She's an actual person with insecurities and dreams of her own. I like that the author didn't waste paragraphs upon paragraphs about Mary's change in interests and internal debates. I like that Lizzy genuinely cares for her, and even her father has his moments of paternal care.
My only complaint is that she and Mr. Aikens have barely any time together. Yes, Austen's heroes are largely absent througho...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites, romance, fiction

Mary Bennet from Pride and Prejudice gets her own chance at love in this book. She usually gets remembered for playing the pianoforte with determination rather than skill, singing poorly, and lecturing. While I was intrigued this book sat on my shelf for a while before I picked it up; mostly because I was not very interested in Mary Bennet. I was wrong. She made for a charming heroine. The adventure begins when Jane and Lizzy decide that Mary too should get her chance at happiness. Lizzy invites...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: regency

I am a fan of "Jane Austen Variation" novels, books that use the characters from Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion or Sense & Sensibility and spin them off in new directions, while still keeping true to the voice of Jane Austen. I found this novel to be a great example of this niche genre. The story was entertaining, the characters were fresh and Patrice Sarath's voice was close enough to the spirit of Jane Austen that I felt like I was pulling on a set of comfortable old gloves.

If you loved...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

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 bo...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Annie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved getting a little glimpse into Mary Bennet! It wasn't earth-shattering in it's creativity and I wasn't too wild about the portrayal of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship and home-life (only because it was so bland and formal) but as a whole the characters seemed like a very believable continuation of the original novel - especially Mr. Collin's! Charlotte makes a very realistic evolution as the wife of Mr. Collins which I found especially interesting. The relationships seemed very rea...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Sarah added it

This book made me happy. It is faithful in tone to the original, and it was nice that Mary finally came into her own. It also goes into further detail of characters that were rather secondary in the original story. You learn more about Georgiana and Anne de Bourgh, and you grow to like them. Lady Catherine you'll still love to hate, and she's even worse in this one, since Mary stays with them a while and has to deal with constantly. But some of the characters are dear, and you'll finish the book...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Ceri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: austen-inspired, austen-sequel, historical

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 e...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Jeffrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The overlooked Bennet sister's 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 guide, but a narrow one, and she had begun, if not to walk a differe...more The overlooked Bennet sister's 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 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?
(less)

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Mar 01, 2013 steph rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2013, books-with-ladies-duchesses-visco, austen-verse, enjoyable, library-la-public, lots-of-characters, romance

3 to 3.5 stars

First I want to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the male lead they introduced for Mary was a good fit with her and their scenes together made me laugh. I also liked that we got to see more of other characters like Charlotte and Lady Anne more in this book. That was nice. That said, I wasn't the biggest fan of Mary in here which is why I couldn't up the rating, her being the lead and all. I just felt like in order to give her her own book and make her li...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well written - very much in the style of the original pride and predjudice this follows the story of Mary as her character grows and develops. While the romance is quite understated and some may wonder at the little Mary and her suitor seem to have it common I actually found it very sweet and believable as they accepted and appreciated each other for who they were and were each happy to share the other's interests (which is usally what happens in real life).

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May 09, 2012 Amie Cross rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a Jane Austen sequel about Mary Bennet, the plain, misunderstood Bennet sister. She is shy, bookish, and awkward with no prospects for marraige or usefulness. Throughout the course of this book Mary Bennet is transformed.
The author does a great job of capturing the lyricism that has made Jane Austen memorable and relevant.
Highly recommend!

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Sep 25, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

refreshing look at a sister often forgotten in the pride and prejudice world. Mary was portrayed as a young girl who like many of us grows and changes as they struggle to come to age. The story was well done and Mary's journey from an annoying pious girl to smart and engaging women was believable and enjoyable.

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Mar 26, 2012 Louise Marley rated it 5 of 5 stars

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.

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Nov 20, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was one of the best Jane Austen inspired books that I have read. I think the characters stayed true to Jane Austen. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Mary Bennet. It was very interesting seeing her grow. It was not heavy-handed. Kitty had a small part in the book but she was left with a long way to go.

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Sep 07, 2012 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a charming effort and a fine example of an Austen extension piece. It is an appropriate and sweet story for Mary Bennet. Sarath found the virtues in her character without straying too far from it. I was engaged throughout the book and thought it was an excellent diversion. Good fun.

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Aug 16, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

GREAT BOOK! Written with Jane Austen's voice with simpilar diction and syntax. A good story revolving around an evolving character and speckled with favorite characters from the classic masterpiece itself.

I LOVED this book.

A must for Austen readers who hunger for more.

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Jun 06, 2012 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: literary-sequels-and-adaptations

By far one of the best Pride and Prejudice sequels (IMO), that thankfully does not just go on and on and on about how happy Darcy and Elizabeth are.

I ended up really liking Mary Bennet in this book. In fact, I wish the book had gone on just a little longer. While I don't necessarily think this sequel needs a sequel, if the author writes does write another book about the Bennets (Kitty?), I'd like to know how Mary gets on.

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Jan 01, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Definitely enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice sequel about Mary Bennett. I would like for Mr. Aikens' character to have been developed a little better - I felt no connection to him. All-in-all, I was pleased with the book and the writing style.

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Jan 10, 2012 laninaki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, austen-rip-off, nooky-wook, historical-fiction-georgian

Sarath does a great job of drawing Mary out of her shell, but without completely changing her character. The only complaint I have is that Mr. Aikens is a bit of an idiot. I understand opposites attract, but he's really kind of a nodcock.

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Feb 13, 2012 Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

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.

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Dec 28, 2012 Amy (Turn the Page) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Quite a good read if you're a fan of Pride and Prejudice but the romance was a little off for me. After a promising beginning the story kind of lost steam.

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Jane Austen Sequels: The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath	1	12	Oct 17, 2012 01:04pm
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About Patrice Sarath

I'm a writer and editor in Austin, Texas. My novel The Unexpected Miss Bennet came out in 2011 from Robert Hale in the UK and from Penguin Berkley in the US. It takes up where Pride & Prejudice leaves off, specifically regarding Mary Bennet, the most misunderstood of the Bennet sisters. Mary is bookish, a bit priggish, determined to stand out for her accomplishments, and is a typical middle ch...more

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