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The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet
An utterly fantastical and undeniably queer melding of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein that recasts Mary Bennet as an insatiable scientist, one who creates a monster in an attempt to save herself from spinsterdom
Mary Bennet is the middlest middle child of all time. Awkward, plain, and overlooked, she’s long been out of favor not only with her own family but with generations of readers of Pride and Prejudice.
But what was Mary really doing while her sisters were falling in love? Well, what does any bright, hardworking girl do in an age when brains and hard work are only valued if they come with a pretty face? Take to the attic and teach herself to reanimate the dead of course. The world refuses to make a place for peculiar Mary, but no Bennet sister ever gives up on happiness that easily. If it won’t give this fierce, lonely girl a place, she’ll carve one out herself. And if finding acceptance requires a husband, she’ll get one. Even if she has to make him herself, too.
However, Mary’s genius and determination aren’t enough to control what she unwittingly unleashes. Her desperate attempts to rein in the destruction wreaked by her creations leads her to forge a perhaps unlikely friendship with another brilliant young woman unlike any she’s ever known. As that friendship blossoms into something passionate and all-consuming, Mary begins to realize that she may have to choose between the acceptance she’s always fought for and true happiness.
Mary Bennet is the middlest middle child of all time. Awkward, plain, and overlooked, she’s long been out of favor not only with her own family but with generations of readers of Pride and Prejudice.
But what was Mary really doing while her sisters were falling in love? Well, what does any bright, hardworking girl do in an age when brains and hard work are only valued if they come with a pretty face? Take to the attic and teach herself to reanimate the dead of course. The world refuses to make a place for peculiar Mary, but no Bennet sister ever gives up on happiness that easily. If it won’t give this fierce, lonely girl a place, she’ll carve one out herself. And if finding acceptance requires a husband, she’ll get one. Even if she has to make him herself, too.
However, Mary’s genius and determination aren’t enough to control what she unwittingly unleashes. Her desperate attempts to rein in the destruction wreaked by her creations leads her to forge a perhaps unlikely friendship with another brilliant young woman unlike any she’s ever known. As that friendship blossoms into something passionate and all-consuming, Mary begins to realize that she may have to choose between the acceptance she’s always fought for and true happiness.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
12 people are currently reading
4483 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 4, 2025
3 stars. I will always pick up P&P retellings especially if Mary is in the forefront and she’s queer. I love that so I was super excited to read this but unfortunately I found it really dry and not the most interesting read. Great plot, but the writing didn’t work for me. It kept me at an arms length and I never did grow to care about what was going on. Mary was fascinating here but everything else fell flat.
September 7, 2025
Rounding up from 4.5 stars. Terrifically entertaining mashup; great storytelling.
September 16, 2025
I received a copy from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Bennet has always been different from her sisters. Considered the ugly sister by society and the odd one by just about everyone, she’s never fit in. As a scientist, what other people think mostly doesn’t matter as long as she is able to find ways to learn about and practice it. Everything changes when Mary finds a friend in Septimus Pike after striking a business deal with him. When her hard work becomes extremely fruitful, Mary discovers that Pike isn’t what she believed him to be, and he discovers that she can raise the dead.
This is among the most interesting Pride and Prejudice retellings I’ve read because it’s also a Frankenstein retelling! Told through a series of letters, and later diary entries, we follow the ultimate middle child: Mary Bennet. The story truly brings the forgotten sister to the forefront and we get to watch her fight her way to get around what society will allow a woman to do. During her journey, we also see her figure out how to bring the recently deceased back to life and how that quickly goes south.
You have no idea how excited I was to read this book! It was almost everything I’d hope it would be. I was completely absorbed in the story until the very end, which is when it started to fizzle out. My only real complaint is that Mary’s early letters sound more like they came from her memoir, and the rest of her letters were really just diary entries before they actually became her diary entries later on. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story.
Mary Bennet has always been different from her sisters. Considered the ugly sister by society and the odd one by just about everyone, she’s never fit in. As a scientist, what other people think mostly doesn’t matter as long as she is able to find ways to learn about and practice it. Everything changes when Mary finds a friend in Septimus Pike after striking a business deal with him. When her hard work becomes extremely fruitful, Mary discovers that Pike isn’t what she believed him to be, and he discovers that she can raise the dead.
This is among the most interesting Pride and Prejudice retellings I’ve read because it’s also a Frankenstein retelling! Told through a series of letters, and later diary entries, we follow the ultimate middle child: Mary Bennet. The story truly brings the forgotten sister to the forefront and we get to watch her fight her way to get around what society will allow a woman to do. During her journey, we also see her figure out how to bring the recently deceased back to life and how that quickly goes south.
You have no idea how excited I was to read this book! It was almost everything I’d hope it would be. I was completely absorbed in the story until the very end, which is when it started to fizzle out. My only real complaint is that Mary’s early letters sound more like they came from her memoir, and the rest of her letters were really just diary entries before they actually became her diary entries later on. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story.
September 24, 2025
Another Pride and Prejudice retelling for the semiquincentennial (250th) of Jane Austen's birth! Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle sister of P&P, gets to star in this science fiction Frankenstein-influenced Regency tale with a side of Sapphic romance. I was never quite sure what was going to happen next at any point in this book. I was very engaged for the first half, but the momentum seemed to wobble in the last half, especially with a few years' time skip in the last third. The epistolary/diary narrative style just wasn't as well serving in the last half.
Mary was a good main character, and I did root for her happiness and success. Mary doesn't get much focus in the source material beyond annoying and baffling her family, but Taub does an excellent job explaining away her irritating aspects. The relationship between Mary and her love interest is definitely not the focus of this book, but I think it helped humanize her, too. LGBT relationships are always nail biters in historical fiction, and I'm content with how this story concluded.
If you're looking for an offbeat Regency retelling with Gothic vibes, I think this will be of interest to you! I am interested in reading Taub's Lydia retelling now, too.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for the arc!
Mary was a good main character, and I did root for her happiness and success. Mary doesn't get much focus in the source material beyond annoying and baffling her family, but Taub does an excellent job explaining away her irritating aspects. The relationship between Mary and her love interest is definitely not the focus of this book, but I think it helped humanize her, too. LGBT relationships are always nail biters in historical fiction, and I'm content with how this story concluded.
If you're looking for an offbeat Regency retelling with Gothic vibes, I think this will be of interest to you! I am interested in reading Taub's Lydia retelling now, too.
Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for the arc!
October 16, 2025
I love Taub’s takes on the P&P universe!
Mary Bennet is always portrayed as the “boring” one so I absolutely loved this reimagining. I enjoyed that she had her own adventures hidden away while the “main characters” had their time in the sun. And Mary’s adventures!!!
I enjoyed so many elements of this book. I liked that it was told in a collection of letters and diary entries. I liked that it gave us just enough science talk to follow along but not enough to overwhelm. I liked the dastardly villain (and he WAS dastardly!!!). And I loved Mary & Georgiana’s relationship, especially their inner monologues about it.
I don’t know if there are any more stories we can get from P&P but I would definitely love something else in the Austen world (maybe the youngest Dashwood sister?????).
Thank you to NetGalley, Melinda Taub, and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Bennet is always portrayed as the “boring” one so I absolutely loved this reimagining. I enjoyed that she had her own adventures hidden away while the “main characters” had their time in the sun. And Mary’s adventures!!!
I enjoyed so many elements of this book. I liked that it was told in a collection of letters and diary entries. I liked that it gave us just enough science talk to follow along but not enough to overwhelm. I liked the dastardly villain (and he WAS dastardly!!!). And I loved Mary & Georgiana’s relationship, especially their inner monologues about it.
I don’t know if there are any more stories we can get from P&P but I would definitely love something else in the Austen world (maybe the youngest Dashwood sister?????).
Thank you to NetGalley, Melinda Taub, and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2025
Unique and fun, you've never seen the Bennet sisters like this!
I love a good mash up of stories, and taking Pride and Prejudice and adding Frankenstein vibes made me laugh and clap. Great book if your fans of the originals!
I love a good mash up of stories, and taking Pride and Prejudice and adding Frankenstein vibes made me laugh and clap. Great book if your fans of the originals!
September 29, 2025
As detailed in my breathless post about ARCs, and Melinda Taub‘s series of Jane Austen retellings, I received a copy from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Please note, that a more detailed dive into the main tropes of this novel (complete with spoilers and a lot of excitement about references to Regency Gothic Literature) will follow next week on my podcast, Pemberley & Beyond.
Review with no spoilers
Melinda Taub’s The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a delightful blend of Regency manners and gothic science fiction, offering a fresh perspective on Jane Austen’s world. Three standout tropes emerged over the course of this inventive retelling, that not only captivated my imagination but also added depth to the narrative.
1. The Mad Scientist Archetype
At the heart of the story is Mary Bennet, traditionally the quiet, bookish sister of Pride and Prejudice. In Taub’s reimagining, Mary transforms into a determined scientist, challenging societal expectations. Her pursuit of knowledge and autonomy leads her to experiment with reanimating the dead, embodying the classic “mad scientist” trope. This portrayal not only adds intrigue but also highlights themes of agency and the quest for identity.
2. Found Family and Queer Romance
Mary’s journey introduces her to a brilliant young woman (again no spoilers, but I promise you will scream when you work it all out) who becomes more than just a friend to her. Their relationship gradually blossoms into a passionate romance, offering Mary acceptance and opening the door to a whole new world. This beautifully highlights the trope of found family, explored in a refreshingly different way from the most recent novel I reviewed featuring a queer Mary Bennet.
Through this connection, Mary gains the understanding and belonging she has longed for, providing a poignant look at love and identity in a society that often sidelines unconventional relationships.
3. The Gothic Science Fiction Mashup
The novel seamlessly integrates elements of gothic horror with science fiction, reminiscent of Frankenstein. Mary’s experiments lead to unintended consequences, unleashing chaos that she must confront. This fusion of genres creates a narrative rich in suspense and moral complexity, inviting readers to ponder the ethical implications of scientific discovery.
Summary
Taub’s novel masterfully intertwines these tropes, creating a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking. For those who appreciate inventive retellings that challenge traditional narratives, The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a compelling read.
If you have not already read the first book in the series, do not worry at all. Both stories are completely separate from one another with only one real overlap. I guarantee that you will enjoy these in any order.
Please note, that a more detailed dive into the main tropes of this novel (complete with spoilers and a lot of excitement about references to Regency Gothic Literature) will follow next week on my podcast, Pemberley & Beyond.
Review with no spoilers
Melinda Taub’s The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a delightful blend of Regency manners and gothic science fiction, offering a fresh perspective on Jane Austen’s world. Three standout tropes emerged over the course of this inventive retelling, that not only captivated my imagination but also added depth to the narrative.
1. The Mad Scientist Archetype
At the heart of the story is Mary Bennet, traditionally the quiet, bookish sister of Pride and Prejudice. In Taub’s reimagining, Mary transforms into a determined scientist, challenging societal expectations. Her pursuit of knowledge and autonomy leads her to experiment with reanimating the dead, embodying the classic “mad scientist” trope. This portrayal not only adds intrigue but also highlights themes of agency and the quest for identity.
2. Found Family and Queer Romance
Mary’s journey introduces her to a brilliant young woman (again no spoilers, but I promise you will scream when you work it all out) who becomes more than just a friend to her. Their relationship gradually blossoms into a passionate romance, offering Mary acceptance and opening the door to a whole new world. This beautifully highlights the trope of found family, explored in a refreshingly different way from the most recent novel I reviewed featuring a queer Mary Bennet.
Through this connection, Mary gains the understanding and belonging she has longed for, providing a poignant look at love and identity in a society that often sidelines unconventional relationships.
3. The Gothic Science Fiction Mashup
The novel seamlessly integrates elements of gothic horror with science fiction, reminiscent of Frankenstein. Mary’s experiments lead to unintended consequences, unleashing chaos that she must confront. This fusion of genres creates a narrative rich in suspense and moral complexity, inviting readers to ponder the ethical implications of scientific discovery.
Summary
Taub’s novel masterfully intertwines these tropes, creating a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking. For those who appreciate inventive retellings that challenge traditional narratives, The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a compelling read.
If you have not already read the first book in the series, do not worry at all. Both stories are completely separate from one another with only one real overlap. I guarantee that you will enjoy these in any order.
May 25, 2025
Book Review: The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet by Melinda Taub
Melinda Taub’s The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a daring and inventive reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, infused with gothic horror and queer romance. By centering the oft-marginalized Mary Bennet, Taub crafts a narrative that interrogates themes of agency, societal rejection, and the pursuit of autonomy through the lens of scientific ambition. The novel’s fusion of Austenian social satire with Frankensteinian horror creates a fresh, subversive commentary on gender and power in the Regency era.
Mary’s transformation from a sidelined spinster to a fiercely independent scientist—driven to reanimate the dead as a means of securing her future—is both macabre and poignant. Taub’s prose balances wit and darkness, weaving a tale that is as much about the horrors of unchecked ambition as it is about the redemptive power of queer love. The novel’s climax, which forces Mary to choose between societal acceptance and personal fulfillment, resonates deeply in contemporary discussions of identity and belonging.
How I would describe this book:
- A brilliant, genre-defying mashup of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein—with a queer twist.
- Mary Bennet like you’ve never seen her: a mad scientist battling societal constraints and her own heart.
- Melinda Taub reinvents Austen’s most overlooked Bennet sister with sharp wit and gothic flair.
- A tale of forbidden love, monstrous creations, and the price of defiance.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance review copy of this thrilling and unconventional retelling. Taub’s bold reclamation of Mary Bennet’s story is a gift to fans of Austen, Shelley, and feminist speculative fiction alike.
Final Thoughts:
This novel is a must-read for those who enjoy literary reinventions that challenge canonical narratives. Taub’s Mary Bennet is a heroine for the ages—flawed, brilliant, and unapologetically herself.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A standout in the retelling genre, blending sharp social critique with visceral storytelling.
Melinda Taub’s The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet is a daring and inventive reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, infused with gothic horror and queer romance. By centering the oft-marginalized Mary Bennet, Taub crafts a narrative that interrogates themes of agency, societal rejection, and the pursuit of autonomy through the lens of scientific ambition. The novel’s fusion of Austenian social satire with Frankensteinian horror creates a fresh, subversive commentary on gender and power in the Regency era.
Mary’s transformation from a sidelined spinster to a fiercely independent scientist—driven to reanimate the dead as a means of securing her future—is both macabre and poignant. Taub’s prose balances wit and darkness, weaving a tale that is as much about the horrors of unchecked ambition as it is about the redemptive power of queer love. The novel’s climax, which forces Mary to choose between societal acceptance and personal fulfillment, resonates deeply in contemporary discussions of identity and belonging.
How I would describe this book:
- A brilliant, genre-defying mashup of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein—with a queer twist.
- Mary Bennet like you’ve never seen her: a mad scientist battling societal constraints and her own heart.
- Melinda Taub reinvents Austen’s most overlooked Bennet sister with sharp wit and gothic flair.
- A tale of forbidden love, monstrous creations, and the price of defiance.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance review copy of this thrilling and unconventional retelling. Taub’s bold reclamation of Mary Bennet’s story is a gift to fans of Austen, Shelley, and feminist speculative fiction alike.
Final Thoughts:
This novel is a must-read for those who enjoy literary reinventions that challenge canonical narratives. Taub’s Mary Bennet is a heroine for the ages—flawed, brilliant, and unapologetically herself.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A standout in the retelling genre, blending sharp social critique with visceral storytelling.
October 9, 2025
This was such a fun and cute book. I enjoy picking up retellings which weaves two classic stories together. In this novel, we get the regency period with a bit of gothic as we see Pride and Prejudice merged with Frankenstein.
Mary Bennet is often overlooked as the middle child, and a bit more plain than her sisters. I have always wondered if this was the case, or if she might actually be pretty cute but maybe not in the same way as her sisters who seem to always be in the spotlight or favored. I do feel bad for her and the way she has been treated by her family. Well, her sisters find matches and now it is expected of Mary to make a good match but she doesn't seem to attract the same attention and often finds herself alone in her own mind.
In an attempt to find her place in the world, she decides to turn to her books and brains to "create" a partner. As with the original story, this does not go to plan and Mary has to try and rectify what she has done. I really enjoyed getting to know these new sides of Mary and giving her a mad scientist sort of personality was really fun. I also though the forbidden love aspects were great and it is certainly a read I would recommend to fans of the original Austen work.
If you are looking to pick up a book where we get to focus on an overlooked character who has her own story to tell, this may be a great one to try. I'm going ahead and rounding up to 5* because it's fun.
Mary Bennet is often overlooked as the middle child, and a bit more plain than her sisters. I have always wondered if this was the case, or if she might actually be pretty cute but maybe not in the same way as her sisters who seem to always be in the spotlight or favored. I do feel bad for her and the way she has been treated by her family. Well, her sisters find matches and now it is expected of Mary to make a good match but she doesn't seem to attract the same attention and often finds herself alone in her own mind.
In an attempt to find her place in the world, she decides to turn to her books and brains to "create" a partner. As with the original story, this does not go to plan and Mary has to try and rectify what she has done. I really enjoyed getting to know these new sides of Mary and giving her a mad scientist sort of personality was really fun. I also though the forbidden love aspects were great and it is certainly a read I would recommend to fans of the original Austen work.
If you are looking to pick up a book where we get to focus on an overlooked character who has her own story to tell, this may be a great one to try. I'm going ahead and rounding up to 5* because it's fun.
June 15, 2025
Thank you #netgalley for the review copy.
After borrowing the “Scandalous Confession of Lydia Bennet Witch” from the library and devouring it in close to a single sitting (or as close to that as one can manage with a very active small human and a full time job) I eagerly awaited what I was sure would be the next book and would cover Georgiana’s story. I was not disappointed although this is more Mary’s story than Georgiana’s and while it’s clear it resides in the same world as Lydia’s book there isn’t much reference to the events in that book other than a few here and there and as such you can definitely read this one without having read the other and not be lost at all. For both of these books however, it’s assumed one is familiar with “Pride & Prejudice,” which feels fair considering who likely would be drawn to a P&P reimagining.
Regarding the source material, this book deviates more it feels from it than its predecessor which makes sense considering the story and how little Mary and Georgiana have to do in P&P. Of course unlike Lydia’s book this one also seeks to bring in another classic tale into the P&P world and that is “Frankenstein.” Because of this, it’s definitely darker than Lydia’s story but still I think should be considered a fun read.
Not sure which story will be told next in these delightful P&P inspired series, but I’ll definitely read it.
After borrowing the “Scandalous Confession of Lydia Bennet Witch” from the library and devouring it in close to a single sitting (or as close to that as one can manage with a very active small human and a full time job) I eagerly awaited what I was sure would be the next book and would cover Georgiana’s story. I was not disappointed although this is more Mary’s story than Georgiana’s and while it’s clear it resides in the same world as Lydia’s book there isn’t much reference to the events in that book other than a few here and there and as such you can definitely read this one without having read the other and not be lost at all. For both of these books however, it’s assumed one is familiar with “Pride & Prejudice,” which feels fair considering who likely would be drawn to a P&P reimagining.
Regarding the source material, this book deviates more it feels from it than its predecessor which makes sense considering the story and how little Mary and Georgiana have to do in P&P. Of course unlike Lydia’s book this one also seeks to bring in another classic tale into the P&P world and that is “Frankenstein.” Because of this, it’s definitely darker than Lydia’s story but still I think should be considered a fun read.
Not sure which story will be told next in these delightful P&P inspired series, but I’ll definitely read it.
September 6, 2025
There’s a lot of Pride and Prejudice retellings or explorations of different characters’ perspectives out there, but this one was particularly interesting. This blended Pride and Prejudice with Frankenstein and that was a fun combination!
We follow Mary Bennet, the quiet, awkward and misunderstood middle sister. Her family don’t really know what to do with her, she’s bookish and so intelligent she baffles her father. However while her family overlook her, she finds a hidden room in her house and starts using it as a laboratory. Initially hoping to create dyes as a way of securing a level of financial independence, she soon finds herself in a precarious situation when people don’t behave as she’d hoped. Her experiments become more dangerous and uncontrollable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, I thought the author blended the scientific experiments with Austen’s romance extremely well. I was completely riveted and equally impressed with and frustrated by Mary as she manages to be both incredible intelligent and naive at the same time. I was horrified at the abysmal treatment she gets from some of the people around her and it’s easy to sympathise with her.
This isn’t a regency romance, it’s got more of a gothic and science fiction lean, though with that beautiful regency setting. It has a level of respect and affection for the original book which is clear throughout. This was a fun and exciting read and one I’m happy to recommend.
We follow Mary Bennet, the quiet, awkward and misunderstood middle sister. Her family don’t really know what to do with her, she’s bookish and so intelligent she baffles her father. However while her family overlook her, she finds a hidden room in her house and starts using it as a laboratory. Initially hoping to create dyes as a way of securing a level of financial independence, she soon finds herself in a precarious situation when people don’t behave as she’d hoped. Her experiments become more dangerous and uncontrollable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, I thought the author blended the scientific experiments with Austen’s romance extremely well. I was completely riveted and equally impressed with and frustrated by Mary as she manages to be both incredible intelligent and naive at the same time. I was horrified at the abysmal treatment she gets from some of the people around her and it’s easy to sympathise with her.
This isn’t a regency romance, it’s got more of a gothic and science fiction lean, though with that beautiful regency setting. It has a level of respect and affection for the original book which is clear throughout. This was a fun and exciting read and one I’m happy to recommend.
May 28, 2025
Melinda Taub, you come here and answer for your crimes IMMEDIATELY! How DARE you write an actual masterpiece and allow MY eyes to behold it??
I need at least 7-10 business days to process this book. It just slammed me into the worst book hangover of my life and I am quite unwell, actually. I need more. Do you hear me, Miss Taub? MORE. Expeditiously.
If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. And I will. Take my 100 stars while I recover.
A sapphic Frankenstein retelling including the Bennet sisters?? Sign me up. This book sucked me in immediately. I was laughing, gasping, giggling, kicking my feet. Miss Mary might be my favorite protagonist of all time. The Sir Gregory/Sir Holzmann friendship was everything I wanted and more. And the way the story is written: letters and journal entries. Spectacular, give me 14 more of them.
This was an ARC I was kindly gifted but best believe as soon as it is released to the general public, I will be buying my very own copy. Meanwhile, I will take myself onward to the next book about Miss Lydia Bennet, and I expect to not be bothered until my reading is complete.
Good day.
**I received this digital ARC FROM NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity!**
I need at least 7-10 business days to process this book. It just slammed me into the worst book hangover of my life and I am quite unwell, actually. I need more. Do you hear me, Miss Taub? MORE. Expeditiously.
If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. And I will. Take my 100 stars while I recover.
A sapphic Frankenstein retelling including the Bennet sisters?? Sign me up. This book sucked me in immediately. I was laughing, gasping, giggling, kicking my feet. Miss Mary might be my favorite protagonist of all time. The Sir Gregory/Sir Holzmann friendship was everything I wanted and more. And the way the story is written: letters and journal entries. Spectacular, give me 14 more of them.
This was an ARC I was kindly gifted but best believe as soon as it is released to the general public, I will be buying my very own copy. Meanwhile, I will take myself onward to the next book about Miss Lydia Bennet, and I expect to not be bothered until my reading is complete.
Good day.
**I received this digital ARC FROM NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity!**
October 1, 2025
Thanks to @grandcentralpub and @netgalley for the gifted e-ARC and to @hachetteaudio for the ALC!
I’m a sucker for any Pride & Prejudice retelling, but I wasn’t expecting this! This mashup of P&P and Frankenstein is dark and gruesome. Told entirely in letters and journal entries, we learn the backstory of Mary Bennet, the odd one out of the Bennet sisters. In this book, she’s not just awkwardly playing the piano and killing small talk with her sermon quotes, she’s also experimenting with reanimating the dead! She documents all her findings in letters to a fellow scientist, Mr Holzmann. But when she admits that she is a young woman and not the Sir Gregory she pretends to be in letters, she is shocked to find who she is actually corresponding with. Together the two of them set out to solve the mystery of life. But Mary must contend with the monsters she creates.
This is classic horror. The gothic style with its fantastical and macabre elements reminded me of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Lewis Stevenson. And the narrator made Mary’s voice a bit jarring to the ear. But I think that’s was intentional. She is such an unlikable character. But she’s sympathetic in this book. And slowly she won me over. I was rooting for her.
If you like classic horror or just want a highly unusual Pride & Prejudice retelling, this one is for you.
I’m a sucker for any Pride & Prejudice retelling, but I wasn’t expecting this! This mashup of P&P and Frankenstein is dark and gruesome. Told entirely in letters and journal entries, we learn the backstory of Mary Bennet, the odd one out of the Bennet sisters. In this book, she’s not just awkwardly playing the piano and killing small talk with her sermon quotes, she’s also experimenting with reanimating the dead! She documents all her findings in letters to a fellow scientist, Mr Holzmann. But when she admits that she is a young woman and not the Sir Gregory she pretends to be in letters, she is shocked to find who she is actually corresponding with. Together the two of them set out to solve the mystery of life. But Mary must contend with the monsters she creates.
This is classic horror. The gothic style with its fantastical and macabre elements reminded me of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Lewis Stevenson. And the narrator made Mary’s voice a bit jarring to the ear. But I think that’s was intentional. She is such an unlikable character. But she’s sympathetic in this book. And slowly she won me over. I was rooting for her.
If you like classic horror or just want a highly unusual Pride & Prejudice retelling, this one is for you.
October 6, 2025
I found this genre-bending and retelling blend extremely clever.
Pride and Prejudice meets Frankenstein, with Mary Bennet, the overlooked sister, becoming a scientist and finally getting her chance to shine, in a morbid way; it has all the Gothic goodness I love. The narrative is steeped in a rich Gothic atmosphere that will immerse you in its world. However, Mary’s discovery of how to bring the deceased back to life quickly takes a disastrous turn.
I really wanted to love this more than I did, and I can’t put my finger on what exactly made it feel a bit dry. Mary was an interesting character, a bit of a mad scientist if you will, as was her reanimated suitor, Pike. There is also her personal journey of overcoming the restrictive and demeaning societal barriers of her era, as well as her discovery of her identity.
I usually love books that include letters and/or journal entries as part of their narrative, but as I reflected on this read, I realized that this may have slowed down the pace and taken away some of the Gothic atmosphere.
Again, a very clever story, and I have seen plenty of wonderful reviews, so if you are a fan of retellings, this would be a great one to try this spooky season.
3.5 🌟
Thank you @GrandCentralPub for this #gifted book.
Pride and Prejudice meets Frankenstein, with Mary Bennet, the overlooked sister, becoming a scientist and finally getting her chance to shine, in a morbid way; it has all the Gothic goodness I love. The narrative is steeped in a rich Gothic atmosphere that will immerse you in its world. However, Mary’s discovery of how to bring the deceased back to life quickly takes a disastrous turn.
I really wanted to love this more than I did, and I can’t put my finger on what exactly made it feel a bit dry. Mary was an interesting character, a bit of a mad scientist if you will, as was her reanimated suitor, Pike. There is also her personal journey of overcoming the restrictive and demeaning societal barriers of her era, as well as her discovery of her identity.
I usually love books that include letters and/or journal entries as part of their narrative, but as I reflected on this read, I realized that this may have slowed down the pace and taken away some of the Gothic atmosphere.
Again, a very clever story, and I have seen plenty of wonderful reviews, so if you are a fan of retellings, this would be a great one to try this spooky season.
3.5 🌟
Thank you @GrandCentralPub for this #gifted book.
October 14, 2025
Cute and entertaining, but not enough to convince me that we should be mashing up classics like this.
I’m huge fan of Frankenstein (and decidedly less of a fan of Pride and Prejudice), but both stand on their own so well that I see the temptation to try to bring them together.
They are at least relatively contemporaneous, and I didn’t mind the idea of making one of the Bennet girls a bit of a mad scientist. I suppose as mashups go it’s as good a premise as any, though again, I’m not convinced we need to be doing this, or at least we don’t need to do it with thematically different classics such as these.
We’ve seen some good mash-up books about monster classics (Theodora Goss’ series comes to mind immediately), and certainly some solid retellings or reimaginings of both of these books.
The best parts of this actually are when Mary experiments and then must deal with the consequences of her actions, but the Austen of it all apparently says this must primarily be a romance, and that ultimately takes the story away from what was good about it.
I liked this version of Mary and the story can be fun when it’s focusing on the right things, but I think this one needed a bit more workshopping before publication.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m huge fan of Frankenstein (and decidedly less of a fan of Pride and Prejudice), but both stand on their own so well that I see the temptation to try to bring them together.
They are at least relatively contemporaneous, and I didn’t mind the idea of making one of the Bennet girls a bit of a mad scientist. I suppose as mashups go it’s as good a premise as any, though again, I’m not convinced we need to be doing this, or at least we don’t need to do it with thematically different classics such as these.
We’ve seen some good mash-up books about monster classics (Theodora Goss’ series comes to mind immediately), and certainly some solid retellings or reimaginings of both of these books.
The best parts of this actually are when Mary experiments and then must deal with the consequences of her actions, but the Austen of it all apparently says this must primarily be a romance, and that ultimately takes the story away from what was good about it.
I liked this version of Mary and the story can be fun when it’s focusing on the right things, but I think this one needed a bit more workshopping before publication.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
September 28, 2025
A Mary Bennet story like you’ve never read before! This retells Pride & Prejudice from the viewpoint of the most overlooked Bennet sister, Mary.
I’m not normally one for gothic horror or Frankenstein-style stories, so I was surprised by just how much I loved this. I felt for Mary’s plight as an intelligent, serious, scientifically minded woman in a world that doesn’t allow for that.
This has a very different tone from the first book in the series which follows Lydia (as a witch!), as you’d expect from two such different sisters. The events of P&P are also more distant to the story here than they were in Lydia’s book, but Mary’s story holds up by itself outside of that and I was very happy to keep following her path rather than the plot I was used to.
It was interesting to see the other characters and how they appear from Mary’s point of view. Mrs Bennet has some cracking lines which feel like they’re straight from Jane Austen’s pen
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not normally one for gothic horror or Frankenstein-style stories, so I was surprised by just how much I loved this. I felt for Mary’s plight as an intelligent, serious, scientifically minded woman in a world that doesn’t allow for that.
This has a very different tone from the first book in the series which follows Lydia (as a witch!), as you’d expect from two such different sisters. The events of P&P are also more distant to the story here than they were in Lydia’s book, but Mary’s story holds up by itself outside of that and I was very happy to keep following her path rather than the plot I was used to.
It was interesting to see the other characters and how they appear from Mary’s point of view. Mrs Bennet has some cracking lines which feel like they’re straight from Jane Austen’s pen
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2025
5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This pride and prejudice meets Frankenstein meets Sweeney Todd story was so much fun! We get to revisit some of the big moments from pride and prejudice through Mary’s eyes, like Lydia’s elopement and her mortifying piano performance and while I enjoyed these, I liked the book so much more when the plot was focused on Mary’s disastrous attempts to control her reanimated suitor Mr Pike.
What I loved in particular:
- I liked the way the use of letters and journals to tell the story through Mary’s eyes and give us a little bit of Georgiana’s POV.
- the very gentle romance between Mary and Georgiana was lovely.
This was the perfect read for the start of the Halloween season and I noticed at the end of the book that the author has also written a book about Lydia where she is a witch and Wickham is a demon … so I know what I’ll be reading next.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quercus books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This pride and prejudice meets Frankenstein meets Sweeney Todd story was so much fun! We get to revisit some of the big moments from pride and prejudice through Mary’s eyes, like Lydia’s elopement and her mortifying piano performance and while I enjoyed these, I liked the book so much more when the plot was focused on Mary’s disastrous attempts to control her reanimated suitor Mr Pike.
What I loved in particular:
- I liked the way the use of letters and journals to tell the story through Mary’s eyes and give us a little bit of Georgiana’s POV.
- the very gentle romance between Mary and Georgiana was lovely.
This was the perfect read for the start of the Halloween season and I noticed at the end of the book that the author has also written a book about Lydia where she is a witch and Wickham is a demon … so I know what I’ll be reading next.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quercus books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
September 3, 2025
The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennett by Melinda Taub is a fun and surprising story that mixes romance, sci-fi, historical fiction, and LGBT themes. It reimagines Mary Bennet from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with a twist of the story of Frankenstein. Mary has a amazingly sharp mind and the propensity to break away from the rules of her time. The book blends tense moments with humor, adds a touch of horror, and features a strong, science-driven female lead. I especially enjoyed how the story challenged expectations while still feeling grounded in its historical setting. The mix of genres worked well and kept the plot feeling fresh and unpredictable. Overall, it was an enjoyable and creative read.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
September 29, 2025
This book was so much fun that I could not put it down once I started it! I'm picky about my Pride and Prejudice re-tellings but I love what Melinda Taub is doing with side characters from the novel. First, she gave us an alternate story for Lydia in "The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch" and now she's giving us an explanation for Mary Bennet and why she is the way that she is. Turning some of literature's most irritating or disagreeable characters into beloved heroines seems to be a special talent for Taub and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Mary's story is a mashup of background scenes from P&P, Frankenstein, and Taub's own wild imagination. It 100% should not work, but it 100% does. You don't have to have read Lydia's book first, but there is a smidge of background information that might be helpful.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
Mary's story is a mashup of background scenes from P&P, Frankenstein, and Taub's own wild imagination. It 100% should not work, but it 100% does. You don't have to have read Lydia's book first, but there is a smidge of background information that might be helpful.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Melinda Taub, and Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was difficult for me to rate. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, I felt something was missing. I adored that Mary Bennet was like a mad scientist. She broke all the boundaries placed on her for being a woman, just like so many women during this time. I loved that we got to see her experiment and discover questionable things. However, I feel like the characters weren���t as well-rounded as I hoped. I also would have loved descriptions of the setting. But I did enjoy this book. Even though the sapphic romance was less important to the story, I still ate it up. I would recommend it!
This was difficult for me to rate. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, I felt something was missing. I adored that Mary Bennet was like a mad scientist. She broke all the boundaries placed on her for being a woman, just like so many women during this time. I loved that we got to see her experiment and discover questionable things. However, I feel like the characters weren���t as well-rounded as I hoped. I also would have loved descriptions of the setting. But I did enjoy this book. Even though the sapphic romance was less important to the story, I still ate it up. I would recommend it!
September 20, 2025
There are many books about the Bennets and the Lucas' and the Darcy's.
I think I've read 75% of them.
This one is ridiculous, but in a good way.
We have Mary, good, solid, invisible Mary as a top class scientist.
Easy enough to believe, I was even happy to believe she could bring things back from the dead, but other storyline just felt a tad too far for me.
I think what I missed here compared to other retelling, is the slipping in and out of other characters from the original book.
I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of the rest of them.
Non the less, its an enjoyable fun read, with some science stuff thrown in.
Definitely worth your time.
I think I've read 75% of them.
This one is ridiculous, but in a good way.
We have Mary, good, solid, invisible Mary as a top class scientist.
Easy enough to believe, I was even happy to believe she could bring things back from the dead, but other storyline just felt a tad too far for me.
I think what I missed here compared to other retelling, is the slipping in and out of other characters from the original book.
I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of the rest of them.
Non the less, its an enjoyable fun read, with some science stuff thrown in.
Definitely worth your time.
September 27, 2025
Thank you Hachette Audio for providing me an early copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
3.5⭐️
So overall, I did end up enjoying this book, but I’m not going to lie, I did struggle a bit, in that I questioned DNF’ing a few times throughout. I think my major problem was the style of writing. It was all written in journal/letter-style, which I found I just had a hard time connecting with.
I did end up enjoying the story overall, and I’m not sad that I finished it, unfortunately I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping.
I thought the narration was well done. And I loved the use of sound effects when sentences were scribbled out.
3.5⭐️
So overall, I did end up enjoying this book, but I’m not going to lie, I did struggle a bit, in that I questioned DNF’ing a few times throughout. I think my major problem was the style of writing. It was all written in journal/letter-style, which I found I just had a hard time connecting with.
I did end up enjoying the story overall, and I’m not sad that I finished it, unfortunately I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping.
I thought the narration was well done. And I loved the use of sound effects when sentences were scribbled out.
September 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐
Thank you to netgalley and quercusbooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had so much fun with this, we follow Mary Bennet who is inspired by the great men of science of her day and Mary hides herself in a makeshift lab and carries out experiments. I adored how this was written in the way letters it was so imaginative, plus I love a good retelling and with the added Frankenstein inspired elements this was so fun! I didn’t expect the supernatural element of the book but it made it even better in my opinion and the added queer love story in this you really can’t go wrong with it. I’ll be thinking about this book for a while for sure.
Thank you to netgalley and quercusbooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had so much fun with this, we follow Mary Bennet who is inspired by the great men of science of her day and Mary hides herself in a makeshift lab and carries out experiments. I adored how this was written in the way letters it was so imaginative, plus I love a good retelling and with the added Frankenstein inspired elements this was so fun! I didn’t expect the supernatural element of the book but it made it even better in my opinion and the added queer love story in this you really can’t go wrong with it. I’ll be thinking about this book for a while for sure.
July 3, 2025
Written in a diary/letter format, we follow Miss Mary as she navigates society while also performing secret experiments. After accidentally reviving a dead bird, Mary quickly escalates and finds herself in a little bit of trouble. No problem, some letters to another scientist will help and together they will solve her issue.
The book was surprisingly a lot better than I went in thinking. I’m not usually a huge fan of only letters as a narration choice. It reminded me in times of reading A Dowry of Blood just as it was dark at times and the writing felt similar.
The book was surprisingly a lot better than I went in thinking. I’m not usually a huge fan of only letters as a narration choice. It reminded me in times of reading A Dowry of Blood just as it was dark at times and the writing felt similar.
September 25, 2025
Melinda Taub is masterful at writing in the tone of whatever classic literature character she chooses while still putting her own twist on the story. From the first page, it is so clear that you are reading from the perspective of Mary Bennet. She is often an unreliable narrator and not the most lovable character. But the story was so unique and a fun mix of regency Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC!
I loved this book so much! Taub did a fantastic job of creating a riveting story with lots of twists and turns. I loved being in Mary Bennet's head, and I loved the way Taub used a combination of the epistolary format with the regular story-telling format. There were several places along the way where I definitely didn't see the twists coming. I loved Georgiana in this book, and I think Taub explored the Frankenstein elements in a really interesting way.
I think Pike was a really well done character, too. The roller coaster of how the town treated him was so interesting. Taub is a great storyteller, and I'll definitely be checking her other books out!
I loved this book so much! Taub did a fantastic job of creating a riveting story with lots of twists and turns. I loved being in Mary Bennet's head, and I loved the way Taub used a combination of the epistolary format with the regular story-telling format. There were several places along the way where I definitely didn't see the twists coming. I loved Georgiana in this book, and I think Taub explored the Frankenstein elements in a really interesting way.
I think Pike was a really well done character, too. The roller coaster of how the town treated him was so interesting. Taub is a great storyteller, and I'll definitely be checking her other books out!
July 27, 2025
This is just a fun, enjoyable little book that manages to effectively do a crossover between Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein while also pairing up two of Bronte's more minor characters (Mary Bennett and Georgiana Darcy). Mary ends up becoming a mad scientist to try and avoid spinsterdom with a side of feminine rage, and the whole thing plays out in letters between the two (though they are not originally aware of the other's identity). It does end happily, despite appearing like it won't, and ends up being a great read.
October 8, 2025
3.5 stars
I love a retelling of one of my favorite books of all time- Pride and Prejudice!
A lot of retelling follow Mary Bennett- and I’m not complaining! I always wondering what would happen with her story.
And this is a fantasy retelling, which was fun! Mary Bennett is a bit like Dr. Frankenstein in this adaption! I had a good time with it!
I love a retelling of one of my favorite books of all time- Pride and Prejudice!
A lot of retelling follow Mary Bennett- and I’m not complaining! I always wondering what would happen with her story.
And this is a fantasy retelling, which was fun! Mary Bennett is a bit like Dr. Frankenstein in this adaption! I had a good time with it!
July 9, 2025
Full review to come soon to avoid potential spoilers. This book is UGH AMAZING
Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily. (It’s not all added yet but I don’t want to forget to add that part for FTC)
Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily. (It’s not all added yet but I don’t want to forget to add that part for FTC)
September 17, 2025
i LOVE Pride and Prejudice. I LOVE Frankenstein. So it should be no shock to learn I love this mashup even better. Mary Bennet is one of the best characters I've read in a while, and I love how this story went. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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