E' un peccato che non sia riuscita a scrivere un'appropriata recensione per questo romanzo, tempo fa, perché è stato uno dei retelling di Orgoglio e Pregiudizio più interessanti che abbia mai letto.
La storia è ambientata negli anni '40 del Novecento in Sud Carolina, un setting abbastanza originale, nonché un periodo storico piuttosto complicato e da raccontare e da vivere.
La scrittrice è riuscita ad inserire nella storia temi piuttosto importanti, come la violenza domestica e il disturbo post-traumatico, ma senza appesantire troppo il romanzo.
[SPOILER] Interessante e ben scritta la storia tra Lizzie e Fitzwilliam, probabilmente la versione migliore tra quelle raccontate in altri retelling.

3.5 stars

This is an interesting take on p&p, set in the late 40's in America, this story takes a turn from the original story. I did find the mix of strict etiquette and modern attitudes at times a little confusing.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a free review. As always, thank you Netgalley.

I am not a huge Jane Austen fan. I've read both <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> and <i>Northanger Abbey</i>, but I couldn't get into her other books. And I tend to love P&P retellings more than the actual source material. I read one every year or two, and I was incredibly fortunate to get my hands on this one.

What I love about this retelling is the focus on the secondary characters of the original story. Charlotte's storyline had me crying multiple times over, something I've never done with a retelling, and I ached with Richard in his sadness and PTSD. I love how the author integrates nods to the future — while the end of the 1940s is typically seen as a happier time period, the world was definitely not at rest. There are nods to Charlotte's brother going off to war and to what happens with Richard's story.

I love how real the characters feel in this book. Jane isn't just a caricature of a perfect, pleasant, quiet woman. Kitty and Mary get a little bit of depth, Collins is pushed further into an antagonistic role. The portrayal of Aunt Catherine is unique and different from any other retelling I've read, and I'm really starting to love seeing what authors do with Anne. Georgina isn't just a meek, sad shy girl, she gets angry and heated and doesn't seem to be entirely reliant on Darcy.

This book blends the original P&P in with the 1940s seamlessly. It doesn't ignore the hardships of the times, it updates aspects of the story (like what business Darcy actually does), not having Jane and Bingley not happy until the end of the book, the breakup between Darcy and Elizabeth feeling real and deserved (and even making me wonder if they truly should be together!)

5/5 stars easily. It took me a few chapters to get into (more a fault of me reading multiple things at once) but I couldn't put it down once I hit about a quarter of the way into the book.

oh, i love beau north's books. they are so wonderful in regards to being p&p retellings, but they also really stand on their own (in my opinion). they stay true to the original while being different enough, without being ridiculous or unbelievable. the problem with retellings is that sometimes because you know the story so well, it can feel a bit stale or like you're just going through the motions. not so with this one, there were twists and heartaches... this book was super emotional and not just with lizzie & darcy's story. it was well written, paced well, adorable and funny. i thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved this book. I found the characters enchanting, and I loved the time period. I have read many Austen retellings and this was one of my favourites. True enough to the original plot but unique enough to be so much fun. Darcy and Elizabeth's characters were wonderful - and I loved the secondary characters (plot twist with Richard, and with Charlotte too!). Reading about Austen's characters in this setting was really eye-opening and Beau North's writing is so lovely. 5 stars from me!

I love historical fiction and I love a good Jane Austen retelling or sequel. This book was supposed to be both but for me, it fell flat. While the characters shared the same names as the beloved characters of Pride and Prejudice, that's about all they had in common. I felt like this Darcy and Elizabeth did not reflect the essence of Jane's characters. Had they been named Bob and Sue for instance, this could have been any contemporary romance on the bookshelf. And I say contemporary, because this did not feel like a historical novel. World War 2 was referred to as a source for Col Fitzwilliam's emotional issues, but there again, it could have just as easily been the Iraq war. The writing did not capture the atmosphere of the 1940's to transport you to another time and place.. The character's crass language really ruined the novel as well, making it feel like just another tawdry romance.. It felt like the author was just trying to capitalize on Austen's fame by giving her characters the same names.

Longbourn's Songbird takes our usual P&P characters and imbues them with stronger characteristics of the originals which makes them literally very challenging. The setting in America in 1948 is till very Victorian. There are distinct standards of behavior for young ladies and though the Bennetts are a bit more modern than most, they still live in a society where "what people would say" seems important.

Elizabeth and Jane are the main characters of the story with Bingley and Darcy both following suit. However Charlotte Lucas role becomes a rather interesting one and Anne de Bourgh and Lady Catherine are strangely rather impoverished here. The relationships which develop between Anne and Charlotte would have scandalized Jane Austen society but here it happily ends well.

I liked the role that Elizabeth played. Feisty still but daring and very caring of Darcy. Darcy in turn was very well put in this story and the whole story was extremely balanced keeping the main story of P&P but adding a very unusual twist to the story.

I had to read this in one go and would give it five stars because of this!

Goodreads and Amazon review posted on 13/11/2017. Review on my blog will be posted 9/12/2017. Also linked to my FB page.

A Pride and Prejudice variation set in 1948 South Carolina, and Will Darcy has come to Meryton to eventually buy Longbourn and there he meets Elizabeth Bennet. But the past has made her protect her heart. But who has made her close her heart - when I found this out I just groaned - I would have been happier with the story if someone else could have been picked. But we also have the trials and tribulations of Charlotte, the Bingleys, Collins and Wickham. So can there be a HEA for Darcy and Elizabeth.
Enjoyable but a bit overly long.

Wow. what can i say. This book will certainly stay with me for a while . Started this book then i went away a few days, so did not pick it up for a week which slowed me down at the start of the book, but by the time I got into it I flew through it and could not put this down. Thanks you netgalley