By Janice Hadlow
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable.
The Other Bennet Sister, though, shows another side to Mary. An introvert in a family of extroverts; a constant disappointment to her mother who values beauty above all else; fearful of her father’s sharp tongue; with little in common with her siblings – is it any wonder she turns to books for both company and guidance? And, if she finds her life lonely or lacking, that she determines to try harder at the one thing she can be: right.
One by one, her sisters marry – Jane and Lizzy for love; Lydia for some semblance of respectability – but Mary, it seems, is destined to remain single and live out her life at Longbourn, at least until her father dies and the house is bequeathed to the reviled Mr Collins. But when that fateful day finally comes, she slowly discovers that perhaps there is hope for her, after all.
Five Stars
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow is a smart, tender, and deeply satisfying reimagining of Pride and Prejudice that finally gives Mary Bennet the understanding she’s always been denied. Hadlow transforms Mary from a caricature into a painfully relatable, thoughtful young woman navigating family neglect, social awkwardness, and the longing to be valued for who she truly is. With emotional insight, historical authenticity, and a clear love for Austen’s world, the novel stands confidently on its own while enriching the original story—making it a must-read for Austen fans and anyone who’s ever felt like the overlooked one in the room.
* A compassionate and psychologically rich portrait of Mary Bennet
* Faithful to Austen’s world while boldly expanding it
* Explores themes of self-worth, growth, and quiet resilience
* Absorbing, emotionally rewarding, and beautifully written
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