You can ask pretty much any person in my life, regardless of how close or not we are, and they will be able to tell you that Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book. I own 12 different copies, multiple adaptations, have a tattoo, and various Jane Austen/Pride and Prejudice merchandise from puzzles to purses. My social media handle is a reference to Pride and Prejudice. My cats are named Darcy and Bingley. Few people are as prepared to judge "The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet" like I was.
I loved this book so, so much. From the very first line I was hooked, and I read the entirety of it in less than two days cumulatively. Lindz McLeod nailed the tone of the original novels while adding a new voice in the form of Charlotte Collins (formerly Lucas). The characterization of Charlotte felt appropriate to the source material while still breathing new life into a much beloved story. As a very loud and proud lesbian, I am not new by any stretch of the imagination to the lesbian!Charlotte theories that exist in Pride and Prejudice fandom spaces, but to see a (soon to be) published telling of that story made my gay little heart sing. This book felt like it was written for me, and maybe that means I'm biased, but I truly could not put it down.
I cannot wait to own a physical copy and shove it into the hands of all my friends.

Thanks for the opportunity to review this book.

As Pride and Prejudice fan fiction goes, this was done quite well. The writing was spot on Austen-esque; I was really impressed with her ability to mimic the writing style. I do find that Austen sequels or re-writes are over-done, but I hadn't read one about Mary and Charlotte before, so I was interested. It kept me reading and I found it to be an enjoyable read.

I found the change in Mary's character so abrupt that it was hard to reconcile the Mary from the book to this Mary. But that was simple enough to put aside to people growing up and changing. I would have liked to see a bit more continuity so that it was apparent this was the same individual, though. Charlotte I found to be meeker than she appeared in the book. Neither spoke to me strongly as being their title characters, and honestly could have been any two women in this era.

I liked the slow burn romance a lot, and it was well done. Charlotte's inner turmoil was believable. The shift away from that turmoil into full acceptance and a physical relationship seemed too abrupt, and funnily I found myself losing interest in the story once they became lovers, as there wasn't much else to the story.

There were lots of good moments, and overall this was a nice read.

This book was just what I was looking for. It was so sweet and wholesome and perfectly suited for historical romance. I don't think I would have liked this as much if it was contemporary romance, but historical it just worked! One thing that I didn't vibe with as much was even though I thought Charlotte's character was so spot on with how I imagined her in the original source material, Mary very much was not. I think if McLeod had created a brand new character completely (instead of Mary) it would have worked better in my opinion. I just didn't understand where the character of Mary came from and where this relative came from, I just had to suspend some disbelief in that regard (I think the closest comparison to this sort of trope working better is in Anne with an E where Aunt Jo was already a figure we sort of knew but was just expanded on more)

If you love historical sapphic romance, you will definitely love The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet. Somewhat of a slow burn, you don’t have to have read Pride and Prejudice(I haven’t read it—I know, scandalous) to enjoy it or understand it. I ate up all the symbolism and thought Charlotte and Mary were adorable. There was also found family in the story I loved how they created their own little safe space.

It would’ve been nice to Charlotte’s parents reaction to Mary and their relationship but other than that, it was magnificent! I will definitely read it again when it comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read the ARC.

at this point, i think it is a me problem. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels and i love women, so i thought this book would be for me. it simply wasn’t the vibe for me. that is the only way i can explain it. my main gripe is that it felt too insta-lovey. i was only six chapters in and Charlotte was already waxing poetic about Mary. i thought there would be more of a slow burn. the piano scene was lit though, i’ll give it that!

This is a lovely historical romance for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton, of course. The plot is wonderfully laid out, with conflicts relevant to the time period. The author did a great job laying out the tension between the two characters and landing on a love story for the ages. I loved both Mary and Charlotte, and this was a really unique way of telling a new story based on Jane Austen's world.

5/5

As a Jane Austen girlie who has always yearned for a sapphic romance centered around the character of Mary Bennet, it feels like this entire book was written for me. Austen reimaginings have always held a special place in my heart, especially those that investigate her work through a queer lens, and at long last I can obsess over a new favorite. The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is a queer historical romance that draws together a love story between Charlotte Lucas, now widowed, and the fearsomely independent Mary Bennet. Lindz Mcleod echoes the imaginings of many Jane Austen fans with a historical romance that extends past the canon into the queer communities of this time that persevered and thrived and further explores issues surrounding class and gender within that sphere. Like the flowers carefully placated into bloom at Hunsford, Mcleod tends a love story that had my heart aching for resolution and happiness for these two kindred spirits held back only by the time period in which they lived and all of its stifling expectations. The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is for every Jane Austen fan that found themselves in between the lines and the unspoken queer characters. Lindz Mcleod brings everything great about Austen and the historical romance together with a tangled and imperfect love story about choosing the unconventional paths, and ultimately ourselves.

My full review is now up on my blog!

I was completely surprised by The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet! Charlotte, newly widowed and feeling stuck, gets a visit from the last person she expected. Mary Bennet, who turns out to be way more interesting and bold than anyone gave her credit for. Their slow-burn connection, expressed through flowers, of all things, was just beautiful to watch unfold. The story had me hooked as Charlotte discovered more about herself and what she really wanted in life. Aunt Cecily’s unconventional household added a unique touch, making the whole story feel both tender and progressive. Definitely worth the read!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the works of Jane Austen, and most especially Pride and Prejudice, are the most sought after subjects for retellings, sequels, modern interpretations, and the like. Readers who hold Ms. Austen in the highest esteem, such as this humble reviewer, may rightfully be wary of yet another book professing to add value to this body of literature.

Yet, from the very first, it is clear that this author truly understands the characters of the original work and faithfully - and humorously- conveys their personalities to the page. To begin, Mr. Collins, on his deathbed, apologizing to Lady Catherine for missing dinner, is exquisite. The small anecdotes, and letters from, side characters in this story are positively true to form. Further, multiple mentions of “fine eyes” and “most ardently” and other turns of phrase are immensely satisfying callbacks for the discerning reader. Finally, it just so happens that yearning sapphics fit sweetly in the backdrop of Austen’s world.

In short, the vibes are most excellent. Although the sketch of Mary’s character is a shade far from the original drawing, and in fact, more closely resembling a liberated, queer, and educated Elizabeth Bennet, she is a wonder to behold. Charlotte’s character hews most closely to her original rendering, ever the quiet, sweet, even meek girl who holds herself in the lowest of self-esteem. But her strength, reflected in her original choice to forge a life for herself with Mr. Collins, carries her through this journey of growth and self-discovery, ever bolstered by her glorious gardening.

Why then, must one star be taken from this lovely book? It does not do to wallow too long in the depths of low self-esteem and keep oneself from a most evident future. Some fewer pages of Charlotte’s painful indecision would have greatly improved the ending of this story. Even so, I must recommend this endearing book to any lover of Jane Austen or devotee of queer historical romance.

My sincerest and most heartfelt thanks go to Netgalley and Harlequin Romance for providing a copy of this work, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this tender, lively and true-to-form Austen-inspired novel (and those aren’t usually my type of book; I tend to just reread Austen). I loved the balance of Austen’s original style with that of more modern romantic content (Austen never wrote love scenes like these, but the author writes both passion and restraint so well). A captivating story.

The synopsis for The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet called to me much like a siren’s song - JAFF, floriography, Mary, the oft-overlooked sister of the Bennet sister and Charlotte Lucas, who I always want a happier ending for when re-reading Pride and Prejudice (a long time favorite novel ❤️), free from Mr Collins - falling in love.

I originally thought if I was fortunate enough to receive early access, I would wait to read it until closer to the publication date (4/29/25 as of 9/27/24) but when the lovely people at Carina Adores approved my NetGalley request within what seemed like minutes, well, it just seemed too much like poor manners to hold off and started it right then.


10/13/24) Okay, I’ve been sitting on my thoughts with this one.

I loved this - the writing was very good, the storyline pulled me along with it, I adored Charlotte and Mary and the secondary characters (with the exception of Mary’s awful acquaintance, Mrs. Tremaine), the letters at the beginning of each chapter, Charlotte’s awakening yearnings, my own longing for a happily ever after for the two (again, hello life, so I want that HEA in a novel).

I had a couple of issues with this - some unnecessary last minute idiocy on Charlotte’s part and some bits that didn’t strike me as fully believable. In spite of those, this will be a definite reread for me and will have its own place in my audible library.

Recommended!



Thank you to Carina Adores and NetGalley for the DRC

This was such a fun and lovely spin on pride and prejudice! It was everything I wanted it to be. Super swoony and soft and sapphic and absolutely perfect. The author did an excellent job sticking to the personalities and story lines of the original characters while adding her own spin and it was so well done!

Full disclosure: aside from the very basic things engrained into pop culture, I don’t know a single thing about Pride & Prejudice. Luckily, this f/f romance is incredibly enjoyable even without that knowledge— I can only imagine the fangirl squealing this will bring full on lovers of the original text. SO good, another great addition to the (thankfully!) growing pantheon of sapphic historical novels. I devoured it and I think i’ll devour it again soon enough.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Linda McLeod was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed! 🪻🌹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
I devoured this gorgeous sapphic reimagining in just two days. I expected to get Mary’s POV, but instead, the third person limited to Charlotte’s perspective gave this story so much heart and tension. Mr. Collins’ dramatic death in the first line had me cackling, and the familiar Pride and Prejudice characters felt so true to their original selves. I absolutely adored watching Mary Bennet grow into such a confident, smart, and loving woman- and seeing Charlotte Lucas finally allow herself some happiness was pure joy. The slow-burn romance was so beautifully done, from every lingering look to every gentle touch, with the secret queer Regency society providing a fascinating and validating backdrop. The flower symbolism, especially with violets and Lillies, made me swoon (and taught me a ton!). Tears were shed for these two- trust me, you’ll feel it!!
Huge thanks to Linda McLeod and NetGalley for this early read! I’m OBSESSED.
✨🌈#theunlikelypursuitofmarybennet #lindzmcleod #prideandprejudice #sapphicromance #FriendsToLovers #InLoveWeTrust #OneBed #FlowerKnowledge #MaryBennetDeservedBetter #QueerLiterature #AdultRomance #queerromance #FoundFamily #SelfDiscovery #LGBTQYA #bookstagram #readersofig #netgalley #TheNovelLesbian

I really loved the first half of this book it was cosy and interesting. You really are in the mind of the characters, the atmosphere is well done and you even learn things about this time. However once they kiss, it's the end of it at least for me. I felt like the second part was dragging and not quite there.

This Pride and Prejudice spin-off started off so strongly with the very first sentence, and it really just kept me entranced the whole time. Admittedly, I have never read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (only modern, queer retellings), but this really has me thinking I've been missing out this entire time because a lot of the character work in this novel is divine and it left me wanting more--I can only assume that Lindz McLeod has done justice in working within this universe.

Recently widowed Charlotte has a lot to think about and decisions to make after the passing of her husband. When her best friend, Lizzie, can not visit due to her ill son, she offers Mary in her stead. Lonely and a little distraught, Charlotte accepts even though Mary is the Bennett sister she is the least acquainted with. What slowly enfolds is a tender love story and a very satisfying narrative arc for Charlotte, whose practicality was self-stifling. Although the HEA did feel a bit contrived, I did not mind one bit because of the reality of the time period and their circumstances.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like the most Basic of White Girl Basicness is loving Pride and Prejudice and pumpkin lattes. There are so many adaptations and fanfiction-ish books/movies/miniseries/actual fanfiction that at this point I hate every version of Mr. Darcy's smug face and posh accent and ridiculous cravat. I think the only way you could make P&P appeal to me is by saying "Charlotte Lucas and Mary Bennett are lesbians and in love." But wait, someone did say that! That novel now exists and this is it!

I hypothesize regency romance is so popular because of the fancy dresses, the snooty repartee, and the sexual repression. Making the romance sapphic means all of that is elevated to the nth degree. You know that hand flex scene in the Keira Knightley movie? Way more powerful between two women. The brushing of elbows! The lingering gazes! The intimate sketches! To hold her hand platonically in bed, to lean forward and recognize the notes of her perfume, to give her flowers and pray she understands the hidden meaning. The terror, the hope! MARY BENNETT DRAW ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR FRENCH GIRLS

Charlotte Lucas's character was easily recognizable to me, but Mary Bennett was very different. In this novel she blossomed into a cool, educated urban lesbian living in a queer utopia and was sort of a magic pixie dream lesbian for Charlotte. I found the yearning in their initial relationship development very sweet and was less interested in the obligatory third act argument and breakup. It felt like conflict was introduced because we needed a conflict and a resolution, even though Charlotte's reasoning made sense for her. Also, just a heads-up, if you don't like Jane Austen Era prose, then you won't enjoy this (but honestly you should if you're a P&P fan?). The prose is faithful to that time period's style and was very romantic.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite stories of all time, so every time I see a continuation or a rewriting, I worry I will be overly harsh in my review (not a problem I generally suffer from, but still). However, I can easily say this is one of my absolute favorites!

It's clear the author is intimately familiar with the source material, and her writing talent is clear in how she handles the personalities of these well-known characters and reshapes them (gently, especially in the case of Charlotte Lucas) to tell a new and tender love story. Both characters are well drawn, and their love story is sweet and compelling. Absolutely huge recommendation for me if you love P&P, doubly so if you like historical fiction sapphic romances!

For sensitive readers, this book contains depictions of graphic sexuality as well as references to historical misogyny and homophobia.

This was fine! I didn't think it felt particularly related to Pride and Prejudice beyond the characters names, so while I do think that connect will get reads to pick up the book, I think comparisons will be to its detriment once people are actually reading it.

In PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Charlotte Lucas, snaps up her best friend Lizzie Darcy née Bennett’s rejected suitor Mr. Collins, a dour preacher man. Charlotte thinks the arrangement solves all her problems by providing security, and she resolves to live a loveless life devoted to a tiresome man. But when he dies (and this story begins,) she must leave her beloved garden and either find a new husband or move back in with her parents. But a third option presents itself when Lizzie’s middle sister comes to visit Charlotte, who finds herself attracted to Mary, who has had quite the glow up.

Colins, Charlotte, and Mary are three characters from the original book who are often overshadowed, but here the two women are given center stage and they shine. Their love story is a sweet slow burn as the pair struggle with societal expectations and their growing desire. Mary’s cool social circle and staff provide plenty of great new characters. Over the course of the novel, Charlotte has her own glow up in that she discovers her value and confidence.

With casual authority, McLeod nails the setting, language, and time period, not to mention the tenderness of the love story. She also lightly touches on the way the other four Bennett daughters have fared since the end of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

After finishing this book, I have a whole new appreciation for Charlotte and Mary as I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them attain their happy-ever-after.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Harlequin Enterprises ULC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.