Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I'm gonna be honest, I did not like this at the beginning. I was really annoyed with the writing style (or the protagonist) but it slowly grew on me as the internal monologue of Marnie and her anxiety also grew on me. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down after I got into it. Marnie is truly a character of my own heart, obsessed with books and academics, and never feeling like the protagonist in her own story. While Marnie is a wealthy Californian at an academy (dad is a tech guru, mom is a socialite) the vibes she gives are NOT of that. She's very down to earth and the literary references are SO good.

The plot revolves around Marnie aiming toward the Hunt Prize -- one that her older sister won -- since she feels like she needs to win it; however, she realizes SO much about herself in the process. And yes, it's a rom-com and there are dogs. I wouldn't say it's a BIG rom-com though like it's advertised, a lot of it is Marnie coming to terms with herself, making a friend with Adhira (who I love), and building a relationship with her family (who also realizes how they treat Marnie).

4/5 stars though because 1) I hated the plot with Hayes and it made me feel icky, which I know was the point, but I don't think it should have been connected to Whit and Marnie. and 2) I don't think the toxicity of Marnie's family and how it made her feel was addressed enough. Why all of a sudden are they treating Marnie okay? A whole lot of it should have been addressed.

the forty-eight hours i spent reading this novel were quite a wild ride. i felt immediately transported in marnie's world of rich kid in a boarding school in the middle of sf, who has quite a big family and sometimes feels invisible. i was annoyed at her character, i won't lie. she was so unlikeable at the very start, it's like she wanted people to make fun of her and dislike her. the way she grew through the story was amazing and i love the way the writer wrote her character arc.

the whole unrequited love was very annoying to read. i'm sorry but every time she was day dreaming about her crush i couldn't help but cringe. another cringy aspect was the way lia, marnie's bully (?), was talking. i couldn't take her seriously omg!

i wish marnie would have had a talk with her mom and dad about the way she feels dismissed by them, but i'm glad she had one with her big sister lindy.

overall, this was a sweet romcom and coming of age story. it was funny, sad at times, and very entertaining.

tw for miscarriage.

I have so many good things to say about this book. If you are into books with TONS of classic literature references, then this is a book for you.
This book is not pitched with Marnie Barnes (the main character) as a neurodivergent character, she only reads as an awkward, shy, anti-social, school workaholic girl, struggling to make it through a school project. However, as a neurodivergent women, I know that there isn't enough representation in that department, and I relate to Marnie on so many levels. I wasn't diagnosed until college, but I see a lot of my high school self in Marnie. I think this book is more effective if you go in reading her as neurodivergent.

This is such a cute story, with a heroine who is super relatable to all those bookworms out there. She awkward, introverted, stubborn, and would chose books over people any day of the week.

The author's writing is witty and refreshing, and this is definitely my favorite reimagining of the Bennet family as a whole (PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION has my heart when it comes to reimagining Lizzy). I actually found myself laughing out loud a couple of times.

I'll definitely be recommending this to my students, and I might even assign it for summer reading along with the original novel.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper teen.

For Marnie Barnes, realizing she’s a Mary Bennet is devastating. But she’s determined to reinvent herself, so she enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens up to the world.

Marnie could be a relatable character with her love of books and the references to Pride and Prejudice. She was a bit irritating at first but grew on me. This is a quick romcom read but is a young adult book. There were times it was a bit too angsty for me. But all in all, I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Marnie Barnes is without a doubt one of my favorite new characters I've read. Worried she's the Mary Bennet of her family and determined to change that, Marnie's journey was hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderful to watch unfold. I loved her witty banter (with herself more often than not) and the complex navigation of finding her place among her many sisters and their accomplishments. You can't help but cheer her on as she grows throughout the book! The Austen references were a fun bonus that brought this all together for me and made it a perfect read that was hard to put down.

I hate to review books that I DNF, but I gave up on this after 20%. I could not make myself finish this. I just did not like the main character, and it wasn't worth finishing. I hope someone else enjoys it.

This was such a fun and witty novel! I loved the energy, the relationships, and the overall 'coming-of-age' aspects. I was mad at Marnie for not realizing things earlier, but I understand stubbornness LOL. Definitely recommend this one!!

This was a very cute read, and I think there are a lot of bookish girls who'll be able to see themselves in Marnie. Others may find her quite off putting, especially at the beginning, but this book is a masterclass in realistic character development. It is quite enjoyable to watch her grow, make mistakes, and keeping on going. A feel good rom-com with a dash of familial dysfunction and self discovery.

I loved everything about this book except the teenage protagonist calling the love interest "stupid" as a term of endearment, which completely ruined it for me.

It's a shame, because the premise is pretty brilliant: 18-year-old boarding school student from a wealthy family with many sisters is trying to come up with a winning idea for an academic project and prize, and after being called pedantic (among other things) comes to the realization she does not want to be like the unfavorable Mary Bennet from Pride and Prejudice and makes a plan to renounce her unattractive personality traits. Many good things ensue, but is she really changed at the end? And wouldn't we be flipping out if a boy told his love interest, "I love you, you stupid girl?"

I received an advance reader's copy of #BeingMaryBennet from #NetGalley

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Being Mary Bennet by J. C. Peterson is a young adult novel that is angsty, and uplifting at the same time. Life in a private high school and a loud boisterous family make this a fun read.

Marnie Barnes is the middle child in a family of five girls. She believes that she is the Mary Bennett of her family because she’s in the middle, a bookworm, and not social, similar to the Mary Bennett character in Pride and Prejudice. She doesn’t want to be the surly, quiet Mary and decides she wants to be the Lizzy Bennett character instead and be the protagonist in her life instead of a side character.

Marnie also is trying to win an academic prize by working on a project with the local animal shelter and library. Her bubbly roommate Adhira helps Marnie to come out of her shelf and to stop being such a Mary Benett.

At first, I didn’t like the main character of Marnie. I thought she was a bit self-absorbed and stubborn. I did however love her roommate Adhira, and once they started to work together, I warmed to Marnie and finally really liked her and was rooting for her to follow her dreams. Marnie’s transformation from a socially awkward, bookish, acerbic teenager to a happier, slightly more socially acceptable person is the journey I wanted for her.

The author did a good job of including elements of Pride and Prejudice but ensuring it’s updated and modern. The setting of San Fransisco is a large part of the story and I enjoyed exploring the city along with Marnie and her friends.

This is a Young Adult book, and is perfect for a teenager, young adult, or anyone who is young at heart, like me! I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This coming of age story is a love letter to the middle child/sister who finds themselves always trying to be seen in their large family. Marnie has always felt like her parents ignore her and that she can't live up to her older sister's achievements, and then there's her younger sisters' screw ups. She's lost in the middle. She's happiest reading, but has a tendency to correct others in a pretentious way when they use slang and can't deviate from a set plan. She also spends a huge portion of her time trying to win the Hunt Prize, a prestigious prize the school gives out that Lindy won eight years ago. Her hope is it will make her family see and love her.

Thanks to Adhira and a few heart to hearts with her older sister Lindy, she learns that she doesn't have to overachieve to be seen and loved. Marnie also learns to come out of her shell and that life is better with friends and when she bonds with her sisters instead of trying to compete with them. She also learns that hard way that idolizing an older guy may not be the best idea.

The Barnes sisters are Joss (the Jane), Lindy (the Lizzie), Marnie (aka Mary), and the twins Kat and Lola (Kitty and Lydia). Charlotte Lucas becomes Lindy's lifelong friend Sara Nguyen and in a twist Collins and Wickham are combined into Sara's fiancee and the girls' childhood nextdoor neighbor Hayes. Hayes is just as obnoxious as Collins, but with the added creepy guy interested in younger girls of Wickham. Marnie believes he saved her life as a child and has idolized him every since, much to her sisters' chagrin as she seems to be the only one that doesn't see his true colors until the end of the novel.

Marnie is also given a love interest in Whit, a half Japanese boy that works at the animal shelter Marnie partners with for her Bark Books Hunt Prize project. He's a reader too and calls her Anne Girl after discovering her love of Anne of Green Gables. Their witty banter is on point, and they are so cute together you have to root for them from the start. Anne is one of my favorite heroines, so extra points for the Anne and Gil reference.

I give this one four and a half Lightsabers. I can't wait to see what else J. C. Peterson comes out with next.

“Every person is the main character in their own story, even the women stuffed in the attics.” As an avid Austen reader, I was absolutely delighted by this book. Marnie is determined to become the protagonist in her own story, as she views herself as the Mary Bennet instead. I found myself smiling throughout the book, and can imagine students of mine that would enjoy it as well.

This book was an utter delight! It made me laugh and curse and sniffle aloud at different points. I breezed through it and absolutely loved the cast. It has a wonderful growth arc for the “unlikeable” protagonist that results in a heartwarming journey for (almost) everyone involved. I really appreciated the diversity of the characters as well.

I’d just advise that readers mind the CWs.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-ARC. This is my honest review in return.

Voice-y and charming, sweet and lively, this was a delightful read! There's so much great humor and hope in Marnie's journey from semi-aggressive curmudgeon to heroine of her own story. I loved seeing her relationships with her roommate and love interest blossom, and I especially loved how she began to discover a deeper connection with her sisters. All around, a warm hug of a book, and a fun and funny twist on P&P!

Being Mary Bennet was such a pleasure to read! I adored every single character, and I particularly appreciated main-character Marnie's growth--from her infuriatingly frustrating start to her commendable end. As a Pride and Prejudice fan, I was also delighted by the way the plot and characters in Being Mary Bennet were a modern-day reflection of their Pride and Prejudice counterparts (and bonus points for the line about boiled potatoes!). That said, someone unfamiliar with Jane Austen would still understand this book and find it just as swoon-worthy. Speaking of which--OH MY GOODNESS, THE SWOONY LOVE INTEREST. No spoilers here, but suffice it to say you'll leave this book with your heart overflowing with warmth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Being Mary Bennet is the story of Marnie, the middle sister in a family of overachievers and drama producers, leaving Marnie feeling as if her role is the pedantic wet blanket. She already feels this is her niche when her charismatic roommate, Adhira, tells her on her birthday that she's like Mary Bennet. Distraught, Marnie starts to believe it and vows to change herself.

I'm a huge P&P fan, so I loved this book and that it gave a little peek into the anxiety required to produce the Mary Bennets of the world. I recently watched a video of the actress who played Mary Bennet in the Colin Firth version of P&P talking about how much fun it was to play that character, and it was equally as fun to see the world through a Mary Bennet-esque character's eyes. There were so many funny moments fueled by teen sarcasm, the gold standard of sarcasm, and Marnie's youthfully jaded perspective.

This is great option for YA/teen libraries and any Austen fans, of course, since we all have a little Mary Bennet in us.

*I received this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you NetGalley, J.C. Peterson, and Harper Collins for approving my request for this ARC.


CW: emotional abuse/manipulation, grooming, statutory rape, miscarrige

I went into Being Mary Bennet with equal parts excitement and trepidation. You see, I’m a big Jane Austen fan, but I’m an even bigger Mary Bennet fan. A copy of P&P with annotative flags for just Mary Bennet? I’ve got that. Low quality Mary Bennet fanfiction? I’ve written that. I’m a stan, as the kids would say.

This book did not disappoint. At the beginning, I was sort of put off with the way Mary was painted and the ultimate worst lit sis one could possibly be, but the characters were so loveable that I got sucked in. God, Marnie is the ultimate relatable “I think I’m more grown and mature than I am” teen, and I love her. It was so enjoyable to watch her grow into herself and recognize who she wanted to become.

I don’t have a lot to say because I just want everyone to read it. Ever felt like you weren’t enough, weren’t the lead in your life, or didn’t fit in? This book is for you.

4.5 rounded to 5 because I loved it.

Being Mary Bennet is Pride & Prejudice but with a unique twist – instead of focusing on the much-beloved Lizzie and Mr. Darcy, it takes the road less traveled and stars Marnie Barnes–AKA Mary Bennet, the often-ignored (and even at times unlikeable!) Bennet sister.

As a bookworm myself, who is obsessed with the romance genre, Pride & Prejudice is a much beloved classic novel of mine. 💚 I mean, how can you not ship Lizzie and Mr. Darcy, the original bookish OTP?! So you can only imagine how intrigued I was when I discovered Being Mary Bennet!

Being Mary Bennet opens up with Marnie Barnes, a bookish, socially awkward, perfectionistic girl after my own heart. Marnie’s life isn’t perfect (whose is?) but now that she’s a senior at her boarding school, she’s determined to win the prestigious Hunt Prize, an award that was first one by her “perfect” older sister, who happens to (in Marnie’s mind) be the Lizzie to her Mary.

Her motives to win the Hunt Prize may not be perfect (after all, it’s an award given to someone who starts the most groundbreaking community service project, and Marnie is really only seeking the recognition aspect of winning it) but she does have a pretty unique idea: Bark Books, a project that pairs shelter pups with younger students who may be struggling with reading. Instead of reading to another human, the children would practice their reading skills with the dogs, who are a safe and comforting way to practice reading out loud with. And let me just say that I was obsessed with this! Sure, Marnie made a few missteps in the execution (like what if a child would prefer to read to a cat, or even an iguana?) but I loved it all the same.

Then we also have the fact that there is a bit of a love triangle between Marnie, Hayworth Wellesley, and Eugene Whitlock Jr., also known as “Whit.” However, even though I tend to despise love triangles, I didn’t actually mind this one at all because it’s pretty obvious from the start that View Spoiler » I really rooted for Marnie and View Spoiler », and I was so happy to see them get together. Without spoiling who ends up with who, I will say that it used my favorite trope (friends to lovers), which really brought a smile to my face!

I also really thought that the character development of Marnie was really well done. While unlike other reviewers, I didn’t actually think she was entirely unlikeable from the start, I will say that she definitely goes through a lot of personal growth throughout the novel, which was really nice to see! I won’t spoil it, but there was a scene directly relating to this toward the end of the book at the Hunt Prize award ceremony that I really, really loved was included.


—OVERALL:

Reading Being Mary Bennet was exactly as enjoyable, endearing, and entertaining as I was hoping it would be. With a flawed, bookish main character, a boarding school backdrop, and an OTP worth rooting for, this is the Pride & Prejudice retelling I didn’t even know I needed! Fans of Pride & Prejudice, as well as cutesy YA rom-coms, are sure to fall in love with Being Mary Bennet, coming out in stores March 2022!

This is such a fun and heartfelt book! Marnie is the perfect bookish heroine whose dry wit and clever literature references will have you in stitches. The love story was so sweet (and I also fell head over heels for Sir Patrick Stewart the dog!!). A beautiful story about finding yourself in every way possible—finding family, finding friendship, and of course, finding love.