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bookish_liv's review against another edition
5.0
Just when I thought I'd overdone it on the Pride and Prejudice retellings I picked up this lovely book. It was so nice to drop back into the P&P world from Charlotte's perspective. A really enjoyable story.
emisallbooked's review against another edition
4.0
This was truly such a delightful book! I don’t read many “spinoffs” of classic novels but I’m glad I gave this one a go, I devoured it over a weekend. Here we get to see a continuation of Pride & Prejudice, the story of Elizabeth’s friend Charlotte who married the dreaded Mr. Collins. She’s made her peace with choosing comfort and stability over waiting for love but still can’t help but feel lonely. When she strikes up a friendship with a farmer, Mr. Travis, she finally feels heard, which is an issue as he is not her husband. This book explores Charlotte’s mind as she grapples with finally finding some emotional intimacy, which she sees as lacking from her marriage.
The writing style was an excellent balance of period and modern making it such a quick read. I of course loved being back in the P&P universe and seeing Lizzy and Darcy pop in at points, as well as learning more about Charlotte’s family. I think it was also a well done commentary on societal norms for the day, the push and pull for women wanting to find love in their husband but also needing security, and if they choose security how else can they fulfill their emotional needs? Overall I’d recommend this book if you love P&P or just Regency era, or if you need a quick, easy read after something heavier.
The writing style was an excellent balance of period and modern making it such a quick read. I of course loved being back in the P&P universe and seeing Lizzy and Darcy pop in at points, as well as learning more about Charlotte’s family. I think it was also a well done commentary on societal norms for the day, the push and pull for women wanting to find love in their husband but also needing security, and if they choose security how else can they fulfill their emotional needs? Overall I’d recommend this book if you love P&P or just Regency era, or if you need a quick, easy read after something heavier.
booklover1974's review against another edition
5.0
4,5 stars rounded up to 5
Finally a Pride and Prejudice spin-off I like!
The Clergyman's wife by Molly Greely is a debut and what a great one!
•
In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Charlotte Lucas is Elizabeth Bennetts best friend that marries William Collins, whom Elizabeth turned down when proposed to. This story is about Charlotte, now Collins, and her life after she got married. The author has done a fantastic job with developing Charlotte and her thoughts and feelings. The other characters are portraited in a Jane Austen way, with dry wit, and it feels like I'm at dinner at Rosings Park! •
If you love Pride and Prejudice I encourage you to read this! It's a lovely book.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Finally a Pride and Prejudice spin-off I like!
The Clergyman's wife by Molly Greely is a debut and what a great one!
•
In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Charlotte Lucas is Elizabeth Bennetts best friend that marries William Collins, whom Elizabeth turned down when proposed to. This story is about Charlotte, now Collins, and her life after she got married. The author has done a fantastic job with developing Charlotte and her thoughts and feelings. The other characters are portraited in a Jane Austen way, with dry wit, and it feels like I'm at dinner at Rosings Park! •
If you love Pride and Prejudice I encourage you to read this! It's a lovely book.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Oh you all know I love PP variations! So I went for this one at once. This is not a romance. I do confess at times I wanted more for Charlotte, oh how I wished.
Charlotte made a choice. Probably remain a spinster and lie under her father's and then brother's roof and be a burden, or marry a man with a good standing and prospects. Even if he is not handsome, but neither is she. Even if her best friend wonders if she lost her mind, because he can sure be tiresome.
But she married, she moved away, she found she could do it.
There is their first time, and it really describes their lives. A bit sad, but normal life you know. A sensible life. A bit boring.
And then Lady Catherine orders a farmer to plant roses for them and, no, there is great love story. There is yearning and looks, and words. And I hoped, but how could one hope. It was not a sensible choice, and it was not possible either.
I liked this book. Charlotte sacrificed so she could have other things. A home of her own, children, a good life.
The narrator was good and she nailed Lady Catherine, oh how tiresome that woman is! This was easy listening too and when it ended I wanted more.
Charlotte made a choice. Probably remain a spinster and lie under her father's and then brother's roof and be a burden, or marry a man with a good standing and prospects. Even if he is not handsome, but neither is she. Even if her best friend wonders if she lost her mind, because he can sure be tiresome.
But she married, she moved away, she found she could do it.
There is their first time, and it really describes their lives. A bit sad, but normal life you know. A sensible life. A bit boring.
And then Lady Catherine orders a farmer to plant roses for them and, no, there is great love story. There is yearning and looks, and words. And I hoped, but how could one hope. It was not a sensible choice, and it was not possible either.
I liked this book. Charlotte sacrificed so she could have other things. A home of her own, children, a good life.
The narrator was good and she nailed Lady Catherine, oh how tiresome that woman is! This was easy listening too and when it ended I wanted more.
themagicalinbetween's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this 3.5 Stars.
An in-depth continuation story of Charlotte Lucas, now Charlotte Collins. The author does a delicate and thorough work of staying consistent with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice descriptions and accounts of both Charlotte and Mr William Collins. This story is a rather hard and sad read at times, there are moments of hope and learning to live with hard choices and consequences while choosing what is right. Charlotte longs for friendship and connection, which she does not receive from William, though the author does a wonderful job of giving the reader a slightly clearer picture of him as a character. I thought this was worth the read if you enjoy continuation stories of classics, specifically Pride and Prejudice.
Trigger potentials: the author describes in delicate and limited detail intimacy scenes between Charlotte and William and how a loveless marriage feels genuinely one-sided and incredibly isolating. Additionally, there's quite a bit of indifference on William's part which feels abusive and neglectful. However, the author indicates this is not necessarily intentional and a direct result of his rather self-absorbed, forgetful, absent-minded character.
- infant death and loss.
An in-depth continuation story of Charlotte Lucas, now Charlotte Collins. The author does a delicate and thorough work of staying consistent with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice descriptions and accounts of both Charlotte and Mr William Collins. This story is a rather hard and sad read at times, there are moments of hope and learning to live with hard choices and consequences while choosing what is right. Charlotte longs for friendship and connection, which she does not receive from William, though the author does a wonderful job of giving the reader a slightly clearer picture of him as a character. I thought this was worth the read if you enjoy continuation stories of classics, specifically Pride and Prejudice.
Trigger potentials: the author describes in delicate and limited detail intimacy scenes between Charlotte and William and how a loveless marriage feels genuinely one-sided and incredibly isolating. Additionally, there's quite a bit of indifference on William's part which feels abusive and neglectful. However, the author indicates this is not necessarily intentional and a direct result of his rather self-absorbed, forgetful, absent-minded character.
- infant death and loss.
averysoftno's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jax_hughes's review against another edition
4.0
This was a well thought out peek into Charlotte's life post P&P. A little heart-breaking, but also an engaging story that deserved to be told. A bit more full of description of gardens and woods than of dramatic story, this is a gentle read nonetheless.
cjeverafter's review against another edition
3.0
“When love finds her, she may choose it over prudence. And oh, I will make sure she knows how to recognize love when it arrives, even if it comes humbly, quietly.”
The Clergyman’s Wife by Molly Greeley is the book that inspired the January prompt of my self titled reading challenge: choosing books by their covers. If the lovely illustration wasn’t enough to catch my eye {though it was}, the fact that it also featured the tag line ‘A Pride & Prejudice Novel’ was enough to seal the deal for me.
I always wondered what became of Elizabeth Bennet’s friend and confidant, Charlotte Lucas after her less than romantic marriage to Mr. Collins in Austen’s classic, Pride & Prejudice. Societal norms all but forced her into a marriage to a most awkward man, but that can’t be the end of her story, can it?
I always thought Charlotte was smart & brave, that she deserved more and I very much enjoyed Greeley giving us a glimpse into the world of a clergyman’s wife several years into her marriage. This was a gentle, easy story about love, passion and circumstance. I would recommend this book to fans of Austen and historical fiction lovers alike.
The Clergyman’s Wife by Molly Greeley is the book that inspired the January prompt of my self titled reading challenge: choosing books by their covers. If the lovely illustration wasn’t enough to catch my eye {though it was}, the fact that it also featured the tag line ‘A Pride & Prejudice Novel’ was enough to seal the deal for me.
I always wondered what became of Elizabeth Bennet’s friend and confidant, Charlotte Lucas after her less than romantic marriage to Mr. Collins in Austen’s classic, Pride & Prejudice. Societal norms all but forced her into a marriage to a most awkward man, but that can’t be the end of her story, can it?
I always thought Charlotte was smart & brave, that she deserved more and I very much enjoyed Greeley giving us a glimpse into the world of a clergyman’s wife several years into her marriage. This was a gentle, easy story about love, passion and circumstance. I would recommend this book to fans of Austen and historical fiction lovers alike.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This was on the better end of published Pride and Prejudice fanfic that I've read. I liked that it focused on Charlotte, who I think is a good subject for further writing. The characters and writing felt very true to the original, but in the end the plot was not very interesting. More atmospheric than eventful.