This book was a fun 'what if' down the literary history rabbit hole and I enjoyed it very much. I enjoy it when old, entrenched stories can be re-imagined and not just by bringing them into contemporary times. This sapphic romance begins with the untimely death of Parson Collins and other events combine to bring Mary Bennet to the parsonage to spend time with the grieving widow, Charlotte. What unfolds, or blooms, is a story of love and finding oneself (in more ways than one).

Full transparency, I’ve never read nor seen Pride and Prejudice. I have a rudimentary knowledge of the characters and plot - I haven’t been completely living under a rock my whole life. But I almost chose not to read this one because of that and I’m really glad I went ahead and read it.

I loved this story.

Told solely from Charlotte’s perspective the story takes place in the days and weeks following her husband Mr. Collins’ death. It was thoughtful and full of longing with a character driven plot.

Much of the first half is filled with Charlotte’s internal struggle on her growing feelings for Mary and the impending return to her parent’s home. I enjoyed the slow burn and was pulled into the people Charlotte met and the expansion of her world.

Charlotte is an avid gardener that enjoys floriography, the language of flowers. It’s a central theme throughout the story that I found intriguing. I don’t always pay attention to affectionate nicknames the MC use, and although the one used in the latter half was simple, it felt natural and made my breath catch and further endeared me to the MC.

I usually prefer dual POV books but didn’t have the issues I normally do with single POV. It was written well and I wasn’t ever left wondering how Mary felt.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is the first book in the Austentatious series. Which I didn’t realize was the name of the series and love the play on words for the series. This is a new to me author and I look forward to the rest of the series.

There are two open door encounters plus lots of kisses.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Picking up four years after Charlotte marries Mr. Collins, this is a sweet and spicy "what if".

Part of me (a lot of me, tbh) wishes this had been set on its own, rather than tying itself to Pride and Prejudice, which carries all sort of feelings and expectations with it. The Mary Bennet we see here bears little resemblance to what little we see of Mary in the original novel, which doesn't help the feeling that this would be better off being its own thing and attaching itself to the "best friend's sister" trope than to P&P. The setting also doesn't /feel/ Austen, especially once we get out of Kent and into Cambridge and it starts to feel very "modern ideas and wishes about queer historical lives".

That said, what we get is sweet - Charlotte coming out of her shell and Mary helping her through figuring out who she could be if she took charge of her own future. There is again a lot of wish fulfillment-esque solutions to the problems that come up (including a really quite out of place third-act disagreement for what had been set up so far, followed up by an equally quick and out of place solution), but because in the end the overall effect is a lighter, fluffy read (which is another reason why I kind of wish it had been its own Regency plot rather than trying to be Austen), I'm fine with it.

Also flower language! I love flower language.

3.5 stars.

Overall, this book is nice. I loved the main characters and their strength. Also, I liked their chemistry and how they managed with their conflicts. On the other hand, I found the research process a bit messy because it looks like the author didn't have full knowledge of the period of time the story takes place.

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction books, but this one has its originality and a good reading pace. It's not perfect, but it was a cool read.

ARC given by Harlequin Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sorry for the late review.

I enjoyed this unique expansion of Pride and Prejudice, set 4 years after the events of the original P&P. We get to know more about Charlotte Lucas and her deepening attraction to a new and surprising love interest. I enjoyed the couple's relationship development and how Charlotte discovered her previously unexplored feelings and how Mary just let her experience things at her own pace. Good work!

i absolutely loved this historical lesbian novel! it takes place in the pride and prejudice universe, 4 years later, and follows charlotte lucas and mary bennet.

if you've read or seen pride and prejudice you would know that charlotte lucas (lizzie's best friend) marries mr. collins. in this story, mr. collins passes away from an illness, leaving charlotte as a widow. charlotte grapples with the guilt she feels at her relief and worries about what it means that she never loved her husband, or any man at all. then mary bennet comes to visit...

obviously you can see where this is going!

i really enjoyed this book and finished it in 2 days; i just could not get enough! i immediately recommended it to my best friend after finishing it and couldn't wait to write this review and recommend it to all of you!

lindz mcleod did a fantastic job exploring charlotte's self reflection and realization while crafting a compelling story and lovely romance.

Delightful is the perfect word for this book. A sweet continuation of the classic Pride and Prejudice centering on Mary Bennet and Charlottes Lucas (Collins). Following the death of Mr. Collins, Mary is sent to stay with Charlotte as a companion during her period of mourning. Having never been close Charlotte is worried it will be awkward, but quickly the two women realize they have grown and changes and have similar interests. An ease develops between them and soon Charlotte is wanting to spend as much time with Mary, as close as possible. This sapphic retelling is charming, romantic, and very entertaining. I highly recommend!

This was positively delightful, from cover to cover!

I cannot convey how much I laughed and kicked my feet just from the opening line of this book. It’s so good that I immediately texted a fellow P&P lover, because I knew she’d get a kick out of it. Thankfully, I found the rest of the book to contain even more humor, amidst the sincerity, heart, angst, and joy.

I’m not certain of the stats, but I’d guess that Pride and Prejudice has more retellings and spin offs than any piece of literature. Some are enjoyable, while some fail to capture the heart of Austen’s timeless love story. I found The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet to be fresh and innovative, especially because of its focus on different characters than most retellings. It really stands on its own, with brief mentions of the source material without relying too heavily on it to propel the story forward. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what came next for Mr Collins and Charlotte, or what became of Mary Bennett, this book not only satisfies that curiosity but it feels like the perfect continuation of Austen’s story.

In a world abundant with Pride and Prejudice retellings, I am charmed and delighted that we have one full of queer joy and love.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Linz McLeod
Pub Day: April 29th

Charlotte Lucas has been married to Mr Collins for four years when he dies after a short illness. Facing possibly returning to her parents home, she writes to Lizzie Bennet asking for a visit. While Lizzie is unable to visit, she sends her sister Mary in her stead. Mary isn’t what Charlotte remembers and the two strike up a friendship and soon Charlotte realizes that she is drawn to Mary in a way that isn’t entirely platonic.

My goodness gracious I loved this book! Queer historicals are really my bread and butter and this just hit everything I love about them. This one in particular has a delicious amount of yearning and a queer awakening that was so satisfying to see.

While I typically prefer POV in my books, this book absolutely needed to be in single POV so that we could really see Charlotte move through her realization of her queerness and moving beyond her comfort zone and taking what she desires most. Kudos to the author for making the absolute right decision there!

I also loved the narration by Clare Corbett which kept me engaged and invested the entire time.

Thank you to @harlequinbooks @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio for the eARC and ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This was an engaging sapphic Regency romance. As a fan of Pride and Prejudice and its various adaptations, I found this book to be quite enjoyable, consistent with my positive impressions of the genre. I appreciated the depiction of Charlotte and Mary’s relationship and found the romantic elements to be heartfelt and well-crafted, including moments of emotional tension and longing. The more intimate scenes were also thoughtfully executed. Overall, it is a charming and concise romance that I would recommend to those who enjoy Pride and Prejudice and Regency-era sapphic fiction.

This was a charming cottagecore lesbian Regency romance...just not sure it also needed to be a Pride & Prejudice retelling. While Charlotte is somewhat believable, the characterization of Mary is so far off from the books that it distracted my enjoyment unless I just pretended this isn't a retelling. We don't see a lot of the other characters, which is just as well.

The book starts out with the death of Mr. Collins. Mary goes to comfort Charlotte as Elizabeth is busy and they find that they share a love of the natural world, flowers in particular. Slowly, Charlotte starts to wonder if she might have more than just friendly feelings for Mary...

I absolutely adored this book! I am a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice and I was both excited and anxious to read this book. I’ve always gotten queer vibes from Mary Bennet and have always thought Charlotte was such an underrated character. When I read the blurb I was so excited because I knew they could make an excellent pair, but I was wary it wouldn’t live up to the potential. I needn’t have worried. This book gripped me from the beginning. As in, I had trouble working and sleeping because I just wanted to keep reading. I thought the voices of the characters came through beautifully, and their slow burn friends to lovers romance made me inwardly squeal over and over. I just really really really loved it. I can’t wait to preorder a physical copy for my collection.

If you read Pride and Prejudice and thought Charlotte Lucas deserved a better ending, this book is for you. If you never read Pride and Prejudice, but love an historical queer love story, I recommend this book for you, too! When Charlotte's husband dies after only 4 years of marriage, she writes to her best friend, Elizabeth Darcy. Elizabeth is stuck at home with a sick child and suggests that her sister Mary visits instead. Charlotte finds Mary much changed from who she was 4 years ago and feels a nearly immediate connection with her. When Charlotte visits Canterbury with Mary, she learns some things about herself and the world, but will she have the courage to grab what she wants?

I loved this book. I read it 2 times in 2 days because I wanted to absorb it again after I finished it the first time. Charlotte and Mary, as well as the cast of supporting characters, are complicated and full of their own unique qualities. The love story is full of such unabashed longing. It was truly lovely.

I love a good pride and prejudice retelling, especially when it comes to bringing LGBTQIA+ characters to light. So when I saw that Mary Bennet and Charlotte Lucas were getting one, I was very excited. But I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. It had a really strong first chapter but after that it felt like things were dragging on. I also find it odd that Mary Bennet would be so invested and interested in science when, if anything, I think from the books she would be more interested in philosophy and theology. But I can put that aside as a personal critique.

I think if this story held more substance and a stronger B story to run parallel with the romance plotline, I think I would've liked it better. I would skip a chapter just to see where the story progressed and felt like I was in the same space as before.

I am a massive Jane Austen fan so I'm incredibly picky with adaptations of her work. This book was everything I didn't know I needed! It was an absolute delight to watch Mary and Charlotte find a person who appreciates them after they both experienced a lifetime of being sidelined and underappreciated. The amount of yearning in this book was absolutely delicious. I ate it up. I went feral for the "friendly" hand holding and bed sharing and smelling each other perfumes. The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is a slow burn but if you're prepared for some simmering tension then you'll most likely have a great time. This story made my sapphic heart very happy and I believe many other Austen fans will be similarly delighted with what this adds to the Pride and Prejudice universe.

Mr Collins has died after only 4 years of marriage, leaving Charlotte Lucas Collins a widow with no real plan for her financial security. She's had four satisfying if not passionate years of marriage, taking solace in caring for her garden and running her small household. She can't call on her best friend Lizzie Bennet Darcy, but middle sister Mary Bennet is inclined to call instead. Charlotte accompanies Mary to Canterbury, where she meets a wide range of interesting people, including those who take alternative approaches to love, awakening something in Charlotte herself.

I really loved this beautiful, introspective queer awakening. Lindz McLeod stays true to the original characters we meet in Pride and Prejudice, but gives them new life through Charlotte's eyes. Charlotte has made herself smaller all her life to fit neatly into the expectations of others. Her blooming relationship with Mary allows her to take up more space - stretching her outside of her comfort zone - and imagining a bigger life. The people she encounters spanning different classes help her see alternative paths to living.

The prose is simply lovely, and I appreciated the choice to keep the book in Charlotte's POV the entire time. Ordinarily I want a limited omniscient narrator, but the third person single POV acts as a long form character sketch of a minor character from the original who steps into her main character role and falls for the oddest of the Bennet sisters.

As with all queer historical romances that I read, I look for a resolution that suits the characters, and I was immensely satisfied with this HEA for Charlotte and Mary. Because the story is entirely from Charlotte's perspective, we see her growth and understanding of herself, and it isn't until the end of the novel that she's ready to take happiness for herself.

So when I got this book, all I really looked at was the cover. So I thought, "sapphic Mary Bennet, this sounds cool!" Imagine my surprise and delight when I realized that this is from the perspective of a widowed Charlotte Collins, nee Lucas! Like, my mouth actually dropped and then I got a big ol' smile on my face.

As the book opens, Mr. Collins has recently died. Charlotte writes to Lizzie Bennet to see if she might want to come stay a bit, but instead Lizzie sends her sister Mary. And boyyy, does Charlotte get a major crush on Mary! Charlotte may be 31 and widowed, but she's quite naive in that no one has ever spoken to her about queer relationships. Mary is out to her family and friends, but Charlotte can't quite articulate or understand her own feelings, or what pursuing a sapphic relationship would look like to her or to her family. Also, how can Charlotte pursue something she literally didn't know about until, say, 7 days ago...?

Much of the early plot hinges on miscommunication, although it's less "why don't they talk?" and more, "Oh, poor Charlotte, she has no idea what to say!" I found the third act conflict very believable (especially considering Charlotte's past relationship choices), although the reconciliation was a bit more drawn out than it needed to be. (Also I'd have loved a final letter from Lizzie as part of the HEA - maybe channeling a little of Emma's matchmaking??)

I also really loved the prose: this feels a bit more Austen-y than your usual HistRom, for obvious reasons. The tight 3rd person single POV from Charlotte also worked really well for me. Sometimes a single POV romance can feel like it's lacking something, but here it felt perfect for the characters and the conflict.

As a final note: I said this was more Austen-y, but I want to be clear that it is an open door romance for everyone who wants to know!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet (publication day April 29, 2025) by Lindz McLeod is for Austen fans that wanted a better ending for Elizabeth's best friend Charlotte than being married to the pompous Mr. Collins.

As the book opens, Mr. Collins has just passed, and Charlotte is faced with having to figure out her next steps as a widow, since she's living in the house provided for the vicar at Rosings. Elizabeth cannot come to stay, as their child is mildly ill, so she sends her sister, Mary Bennet. Charlotte, of course, knew Mary as one of Elizabeth's younger sisters, but they've not spent time together as adults. Mary surprises her, as she is interested in science, attending salons for its discussion, and leads a somewhat independent life thanks to an aunt who spends a lot of time in the United States with her American husband. Charlotte is most happy in her garden, and teaches Mary about the hidden meanings associated with various flowers.

Charlotte is expected to either remarry or go back to live with her parents, who would welcome her, but her long-term options are few, as when her parents are gone she would have to live with another relative who would be kind enough to support her. And it took so long for her to find Mr. Collins she doubts she would be able to find another match. And then there are those feelings for women that Mary seems to be re-awakening in her.

It's a really sweet romance, and I loved how McLeod did not shy away from the issues faced by queer people (who have always existed and will always exist) in the early 1800s, and how they created found family within the confines of society at the time.

Charlotte has to figure out what she wants for herself before she can fully be with Mary, though, and I loved how she grew in her own self-assurance through the book.

I highly recommend if you are looking for a sapphic regency romance primarily focused on one character's inner life and transformation into independence. And it was weight-neutral; there were no negative descriptions of body size.

I love a good Pride & Prejudice variation, and while Mary is a favorite character for further exploration, I've read few novels exploring Charlotte's future after marrying Mr. Collins. In this version, her marriage is exactly the chore she has resigned herself to but is cut short after only a few years. This leaves Charlotte, without resources, with the options of remarrying quickly or returning to her parents' home indefinitely- until Mary appears. Mary is now a botanist, financially secure through her connection to a mysterious aunt, and a lesbian. Her personality also bears little resemblance to that of the not-so-long-ago Mary from the books.

The love story between Mary and Charlotte is sweet, and this rewriting of the story gives them a lovely and well-deserved ending at nobody's expense (except the unfortunate Mr. Collins). Janeites willing to entertain some diversion from canon will enjoy.

Charming with romantic turns of phrase. This is my favorite Austen tribute because it feels like a missing chapter to a beloved story. This wish fulfillment gives Charlotte (and Mary) a well-deserved happy ending.