The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Jun 02, 2016 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

I really loved this. I was hooked from the opening pages, which quickly establish that this is a very, very unique variation of Pride and Prejudice. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are 5 years younger. Mr. Darcy is still alive; unfortunately, Mr. Bennet is not. The surviving Bennet family is splitting up, with Jane to live with the Gardiners in London, and Mrs. Bennet to live in a cottage in Meryton along with Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mr. Bennet made specific arrangements with his good friend, the se I really loved this. I was hooked from the opening pages, which quickly establish that this is a very, very unique variation of Pride and Prejudice. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are 5 years younger. Mr. Darcy is still alive; unfortunately, Mr. Bennet is not. The surviving Bennet family is splitting up, with Jane to live with the Gardiners in London, and Mrs. Bennet to live in a cottage in Meryton along with Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mr. Bennet made specific arrangements with his good friend, the senior Mr. Darcy, for Elizabeth to be taken to Pemberley and raised as his ward alongside his children, Georgiana and Fitzwilliam.

As the book begins, Elizabeth is reeling from the grief of her father's death and the betrayal she feels in being forced to separate from the rest of her family and live 200 miles from them with people she's never met. Since she is an immature 15-year-old tomboy, she runs off rather than peacefully acceding to her father's last wishes for her. Fitzwilliam, who is 24, quickly volunteers to go after her and unwisely pursues her on his own. A succession of events leads to him being observed at an inn alone in a room with Elizabeth. Rumors immediately start flying, and in order to avoid a scandal attached to the revered Darcy name, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam reluctantly marry each other. Rather than receiving lessons from Miss Temple, the governess originally hired to teach both her and Georgiana, Elizabeth's first entrance to Pemberley is as the newly wed Mrs. Darcy even though she isn't much more than a child herself.

The story that follows is heartbreaking and believable. Both characters start out as stubborn, argumentative, unreasonable, impulsive, unseasoned versions of the admirable adults they eventually become. While there are plenty of plot developments, this is essentially a character study of the two, and it's fascinating to read how these mismatched individuals evolve over time, especially with the long periods of separation that Darcy orchestrates. Sadly, this wouldn't be out of character for a wealthy gentleman unhappy with his wife during the Regency era. He and Elizabeth both have opportunities to break their wedding vows, and her innocent error in judgement causes her to reflect and adjust her behavior. As good as the entire book is, the payoff really comes in Volume Four when Elizabeth is 19, soon to turn 20. Darcy returns from his extended trip to India behaving more like a bachelor than a married man, and he has the Bingleys and Hursts in tow. Elizabeth has him on his heels immediately, and the dynamics in the turnaround of their relationship are a lot of fun to read.

Ms. Williams is a very gifted writer. I spotted a handful of editing errors, but they are easily overlooked and don't interfere with enjoyment of the story or her flowing prose. Colonel Fitzwilliam has a pivotal role, and I loved having him so involved in the story. I noted how well-rounded all the supporting characters are, both those that are familiar- who behave very much in character with the original Pride and Prejudice- and those that are new additions.

I'm so grateful to Claudine for gifting this exceptional story to me! It's one I'm sure I will reread. ...more

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Jul 27, 2016 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff, favorites

LOVED this book so much I've read it twice. Especially love the last lines (though i think the events may have needed to be slightly altered, but I digress).

This is a beautiful story that is masterfulyl written. It does drag a bit but i feel like it is meant to so that we feel what Elizabeth is feeling as she is sequesterd from nearly everybody while Darcy is away and uncommunicative. I highly recommend reading fellow reviewers, Debbie, Sheila, Rose and leslie.

Due to their excellent reviews I ...more

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Jun 25, 2016 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-books

It's 2:55 am,I've got a big fat grin on my face and I've just finished this book!!!!! It kinda says it all. Review later today!

Dear reader,

Imagine,if you will,a fifteen year old Elizabeth Bennet,favourite child of her most beloved father,happily ensconced in a loving, boisterous family of seven, suddenly about to be wrenched from all she holds dear,placed within the confines of a large, stately manor,under the guardianship of a total stranger,far removed from her remaining family,and suffering f ...more

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Aug 13, 2016 Talia rated it it was amazing

This is my new all-time-favorite JAFF book. I just loved it. Elizabeth was everything I always want her to be and more. The author got everything exactly right. I loved her first book so much but this one blew me away. There is nothing I would change except that she only has two books. I need more. Thank you so much for sharing your talent. Fantastic!

Reread: If I could give it all the stars, I would.

Reread: I would love a sequel to this book.

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Jun 10, 2016 Laura rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Very minor spoilers but hid just in case....

WOW. Just WOW! I seriously can't wait to see what this author does next! Her first book Ardently is in my top five all time favorite JAFF books, so I was excited to get started on this one and I was not at all disappointed. This book too now holds a spot in my top 5, quite possibly my number 1! I started this book while my kids were napping, picked it back up when they went to bed, and read until three in the morning until I had finished, knowing I ha Very minor spoilers but hid just in case....

WOW. Just WOW! I seriously can't wait to see what this author does next! Her first book Ardently is in my top five all time favorite JAFF books, so I was excited to get started on this one and I was not at all disappointed. This book too now holds a spot in my top 5, quite possibly my number 1! I started this book while my kids were napping, picked it back up when they went to bed, and read until three in the morning until I had finished, knowing I had to be up at 5:30. I literally devoured this book. I think I might have actually hugged my phone to my chest when I finished (in replacement of hugging an actual book) and it was one of those books that sticks with you long afterwards.

I will talk only of what I love about the book because quite honestly there was nothing I didn't love. In this version a 15-year-old Lizzy is sent to live with the Darcy family after her father dies. The arrangements Mr. Bennett made prior to his death actually made total sense to me. The loving benevolent Jane is to live with the Gardiners to help them with their children; the younger girls and their mother in Meryton close to their family, where they can continue to be their silly selves, and Elizabeth to Pemberley. I can easily see why the favorite child of her father and the most inquisitive and free spirited child would be sent to live in a situation that would allow her to continue to flourish intellectually speaking all while being able to spirit about the wilds of pemberley. A previous association and eventual close friendship between Mr. Bennett and the elder Mr. Darcy has been added to make this possible. In an act of grief, wondering why she must be sent away from the rest of her family Lizzy cuts her hair and puts on boys clothing to appear as a boy and runs away. A young Darcy goes after what he sees as a petulant child in need of a strict governess and in details I won't spoil and for propriety sake, returns with her to pemberley as husband and wife. Lizzy's time on the run was truly entertaining. The writing was so beautifully descriptive that It was like watching a movie as it played out. In fact, I would love if they made this book into a movie. I could perfectly see the events unfold in my head.

From the point of descending on Pemberley with his child bride, the young master of pemberley is quite absent both in feeling and presence. For all sense and purposes Darcy appears to be a tyrannical husband, although we know the new Master of Pemberley means well and thinks solely of the protection and care of others but he is still a very prideful young man who assumes he should rightfully make decisions for all those in his charge. Most detrimental to his relationship with Lizzy, was his refusal to allow her to see her family, for his belief that they were unfit and would be an embarrassment to he and his relations. Some reviews stated that in these interactions they felt like Lizzie often acted as a spoiled child way younger than her 15 to 18 years. I personally felt like she acted perfectly reasonable considering the circumstances she was in. She was sent away from her family while grieving her father and basically imprisoned on the grounds of Pemberley not allowed to even see her beloved sister. I can't imagine being all of 15 and forced to live in a house with strangers and no longer allowed to see my family, no matter how fabulous the house or how prestigious the family. No, I think Lizzie acted quite appropriately to the circumstances, especially considering I myself wanted to stomp my feet and yell at Darcy.

Darcy and Elizabeth fight quite often when in each other's company, but there is still that feeling of underlying desire that literally burns through the pages. It takes Darcy three long years to return from his final journey. In this time there are interactions and events that change Elizabeth into a beautiful and confident woman, never losing her wild spirited side of course. Lots of the angst of the story plays out here in that you feel the overwhelming sense of abandonment Elizabeth feels although you are proud of her when she finally decides to stop feeling sorry for herself and becomes quite a formidable but loving mistress of Pemberley. During this time she also forges strong bonds with Georgianna, Georgianna's governess, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Colonel is a huge presence in this book and very enjoyably so. I loved their relationship in this book. It was one of pure love in a platonic form. I did honestly think that it was Elizabeth Fitzwilliam had been harboring feelings for the whole time, not the woman we eventually find out he holds regard for. The four of them become a small, loving, and beautiful family.

Darcy comes home at last as a 28 year old man, and finds a very grown up and matured 20 year old Elizabeth, that he instantly becomes quite smitten with. From here their interactions are pure guilty pleasure to read. The dialogue between the two is some of the most enjoyable I have read with Elizabeth at her most clever and really the author as the most clever. The scene with the dressing gong was hysterical. Elizabeth is not about to let Darcy off so easily, their demons from years past most undoubtedly surface, and the fire between them is intense.

I loved, loved, loved this book! An absolute 5 stars and a must read! ...more

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Jun 10, 2016 Sheryl Gordon rated it really liked it

A True Variation - Well Done and Absorbing

I didn't want it to end, but when it did, I was very satisfied. The author writes well though a fastidious beta/editor would have improved this enjoyable read to near perfection for me. The transformation of the relationship could have been expanded, for both of them and I would have liked to have more of the reasoning and relationship between the fathers. The passion, though far from explicit, was sufficient and illuminating enough but the path to it fe ...more

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Jun 24, 2016 Marina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favourite-p-p

Great story!

I have read this book nonstop and could not stop till i have finished reading it. From very beginning of their acquaintance, Lizzy and Darcy behaved as very real and engaging characters. I only wish that it took him longer to charm her, as it took only a month or so for to forgive years of neglect on his part.

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Jun 22, 2025 ana darcy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

So many things going on

I have really enjoyed this story through the different years of ODC.

I have disliked Darcy but I have understood him a bit. However, Lizzy is the one who has suffered the most but has been able to overcome so much.

I really liked Colonel Fitzwilliam's side of the story too. ...more

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Nov 24, 2016 Carol Perrin rated it it was amazing

The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The death of Mr. Bennet causes havoc at Longbourn. The foolish Collins family has given the Bennets a short time to vacate Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet and the three youngest daughters will live in a cottage in Meryton, Jane in London with the Gardiners, and fifteen year old Elizabeth is to be the ward of Mr. George Darcy at Pemberley. Impertinent and impulsive Elizabeth decides that this is not going to happen and after dressing in The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The death of Mr. Bennet causes havoc at Longbourn. The foolish Collins family has given the Bennets a short time to vacate Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet and the three youngest daughters will live in a cottage in Meryton, Jane in London with the Gardiners, and fifteen year old Elizabeth is to be the ward of Mr. George Darcy at Pemberley. Impertinent and impulsive Elizabeth decides that this is not going to happen and after dressing in some of her father's childhood old, out of style clothing, runs away from Longbourn only to be chased by twenty-three old Fitzwilliam Darcy. After losing him twice, he finally catches her. Unfortunately, a spurned young lady of his acquaintance decides to get even with him after refusing to take her back. This causes the scandal which forces Fitzwilliam to offer marriage to Elizabeth since he is a gentleman. The brief wedding follows an even briefer engagement. The two being at each other's throats, Mr. Darcy sends Fitzwilliam to their estate in Scotland. His stay stretches for over a year returning home at the death of his father. Walter Fitzwilliam has invested heavily in a misadventure in the islands and his mother, the Countess, asks Darcy to investigate their finances. Colonel Fitzwilliam wounded in battle stays at Pemberley to watch over Elizabeth and Georgiana. Elizabeth's sixteenth birthday passed during his stay in Scotland and her twentieth approaches as he returns home from saving the Fitzwilliam fortune and making his own meeting Bingley in the process. When they return to England, Darcy is introduced to Bingley's family. Ah, Caroline decides Darcy is to be hers upon introduction. Staying in London longer than he should, Richard confronts him at Darcy House while he is entertaining the Bingleys with Caroline, the leach, clinging to him and acting as mistress of the house. Darcy is angry that he is not at Pemberley watching his two young ladies and their governess, Richard has a desire to knock him on his ass. He reminds Darcy that while he was gone for three years not one and entertaining in London instead of returning to Pemberley, his wife also grew into a fine young woman who has been running Pemberley without him for two years. Richard leaves and wishes him luck especially after finding out that he has invited the Bingleys to Pemberley. Caroline is determined to have him even after she finds out that he's married. When she sees Pemberley, she thinks Elizabeth will be replaced by her quickly. When Darcy returns home and sees Elizabeth, he is dumbfounded. He realizes Richard is correct; she is no longer fifteen and a fully fleshed out woman. As she struts about Pemberley making herself obnoxious to Elizabeth, Georgiana, and the servants Caroline discovers Elizabeth is not so easily swayed and fights to keep what is hers: Darcy, Pemberley, and her horse. Darcy learns quickly that in his absence, Elizabeth has won her right as the Mistress of Pemberley and he must win her love and respect as well as many of his staff and tenants. ODB finally realizes he had better woo ODG if is going to have a HEA. Took him long enough, but he finally got the message. Loved this Elizabeth especially after she returns from London and Meryton deciding to change her perspective on her early marriage and Darcy. Her handling of Caroline was priceless. Loved Richard Fitzwilliam's constant support of Elizabeth and wished he would have decked Darcy in London. When the scandal forced the marriage, it was difficult to determine who was more the child: Fitzwilliam Darcy at twenty-three or Elizabeth Bennet at fifteen. ...more

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Jun 14, 2016 Teresita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: jaff

She was fully young and very distressed...

He was really full of himself...

This story tells not only how she comes of age, but also how both of them grow and mature, to become...

I recommend you to read this book, it's a great tale! ...more

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