As a longtime Austen fan, I loved The Heiress! It is a semi-retelling of Pride & Prejudice from the perspective of Anne de Bourgh, the sickly daughter of the eminent and formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Greeley imagines Anne’s infamous ‘illness’ as stemming from her required daily doses of laudanum that keep her body weak and her mind foggy — a sort of Munchausen syndrome by proxy situation. After a concerned governess confesses her discomfort with the ‘medicine’ from the relative comfort and familiarity of her inheritance at Rosings Park to the chaotic and bustling streets of London. As Anne grows stronger and more independent, she finds comfort, friendship, and perhaps even love (!) among her new expanded social circle.

I really enjoyed watching a minor character from Austen’s novel throw off the yoke of her haughty mother and free herself from the confines of her claustrophobic upbringing. Greeley has composed a well-written feminist story — an engaging peek into the Regency era with a twist.

[4.5/5: A queer coming-of-age novel with a familiar setting most evocatively rendered. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen or Austen-inspired lit.]

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this great book!

I could not finish this book. I tried, I did not enjoy the writing style.Did not finish. Did not finish. Did not finish.