It is over 50 years since I read ‘Great Expectations’ and perhaps 20 since I saw a film version. But who coud ever forget Miss Havisham, Pip and Estella… This modern take on that classic, writen somewhat in a Dickensian style, was, for me, difficult to engage with. Empathizing with Estella was not easy. I found my mind wandering, put the book aside many times, and I admit struggled to finish it. It was well written but for me a three-star read.

A great insight to a character that was only previously described from Pip's point of view.
The author took a character, and while made no changes, gave her depth and purpose.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

Reading this I found it very difficult to sympathise with Estella, as all her actions were ultimately her own undoing, leading to her unhappy marriage, choosing wealth over love, a love she completely dismisses. However, she does learn from her errors and breaks free from her chains to start her own life.

As someone who has not read the original source/inspiration of this book (Dicken's Great Expectations), I found this book to be OK, but this was due to my dislike of Estella. This is not to say that Kathy George has written this wonderfully, and I look forward to reading more of her works.

Estella
Kathy George

5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of Estella by Kathy George. I have not received any compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own and mine alone.

In summary: Impressive read. Engrossing unable to put the book down, well rounded characters and a satisfying ending. If you like Anne of Green Gables, you will most likely enjoy this story as it has the Anne of Green Gables vibe.

Based on characters from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the author has taken it upon herself to explore the characters Estella and Pip from Dicken’s work.
I have not read Great Expectations, however I expect to read the story to fill in the rest of the story, not that it is needed! Estella stands alone quite well on its own.
Estella as a character was well thought out. I loved her strength and her struggle as an adopted child by the eccentric Miss Havershim. I could visualise Estella’s conflicts as she grows up wanting love and affection from her adoptive mother, only to be turned away finding solace in Mrs Butters the maid and Pip.
As Estella is hell bent on denying her feelings towards Pip she hastily marries Bentley. I actually thought she could quite possibly murder him although she manages to become strong able to leave the brute. I cheered for her when she gathered her equilibrium and stood her ground. I may or may not have cheered at the untimely death of her husband through his own doing.
Kathy George certainly took the reader on a great adventure with Estella. The writing was excellent, character development was superb. I did not feel there was anything lacking, covering all of the bases. The characters were believable in their slice of the moment the reader is given. The plot was well thought out, although I did hope that in the end Estella and Pip took over her childhood home giving it a happy ending of sorts. Bringing warmth and peace to it rather than being destroyed.
I highly recommend Estella by Kathy George. As someone such as myself not really into historicals, let alone a rehash of a classic. It really does stand strongly on its own. Again, giving off an Anne of Green Gables vibe.

Written very much in the style of Charles Dickens, Estella is a spin-off novel from Dickens’ Great Expectations. Written in the first person and largely as a narrative, the story is quite slow to read. That said, the imagery is exquisite and the prose lyrical, making this an enjoyable reading journey. I didn’t really warm to Estella herself when I met her. She starts off as a pretty bratty child, though that is no wonder given the nature of Miss Haversham, her adoptive mother. As the story progresses, she becomes far more likeable and by the end of the story she is both considerate and caring. I enjoyed watching her nature evolve as the story progressed. While this book doesn’t move with the same pace as many modern stories, it is nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable story and well worth a read.

Firstly let me say that I have never read Great Expectations, I do have a little knowledge of Miss Havisham but not much and I was really looking forward to this one and was not disappointed it is really well written and had me thinking all the way through.

Estella is three years old when she is adopted by the very eccentric Miss Havisham who was jilted at the alter and has never gotten over it, Miss Havisham plans to bring Estella up to break men’s hearts as her heart was broken. They live in Satis House a run down and neglected home and Estella’s lessons start early. Estella does learn about love through the housekeeper and then she meets a young boy Pip and they spend many hours together and Pip is very fond of Estella, but years go on and Estella is sent to France to school and it is five years before she returns to Satis House, she is now a young woman ready to break hearts in London.

Staying with friends in Richmond she meets up with Pip again who is helping Estella find her way around town as she looks for a husband, Estella is very picky and is not always nice to some people, but eventually she chooses a husband is he the right one?

I did enjoy this book although I am not sure that I liked Estella all the time there were times when I was cheering her on and other times not so, but being taken from her mother and bought up my Miss Havisham was always going to play a big part in how Estella is in her later years and I did love Pip such a lovely character and will he ever find the happiness he deserves.

This is one that I do recommend even to those who have not read Great Expectations, Kathy George is a wonderful storyteller.

My thanks to Harlequin AU for my copy to read and review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this opportunity.

This is a beautiful new version from the classical read from Great Expectations where the main character now, is Estella. Most of the story is true to the original but the reader is able to assess it from a feminist's view, one of social constraint, lack of opportunity and in Estella's case when she makes the poor judgment of marrying Bentley Drummle who considers her less than one of his horses and only one of financial opportunity. This is a terrible marriage, Estella realises that in choosing Drummle simply because she is bored with the continual parading of herself at the many balls she simply took the easiest way out. It takes her awhile to decide to leave this cruel man. Miss Havisham dies from injuries due to the fire in the house. As is in the original, Miss Havisham resides with her moulding clothes, surrounds and memories of her rejection.

Estella, was adopted by Miss Havisham, taken from her mother at a young age and has grown to be a beautiful woman who has been purposely raised and groomed to be a heartbreaker by her Miss Havisham who was left at the alter so to speak and as a consequence has conspired to train Estella for her own revenge on the male population.

Pip, an orphan, lives with his sister and husband, a blacksmith and is introduced to Miss Havisham and Estella who treats him badly but in time he falls in love with her. Estella on the other hand thinks of him only as a good friend and due to his poor circumstances not interested in anything beyond friendship. However, he makes good from a rich benefactor and becomes a gentleman. He is devastated by Estella's choice of husband and finally travels abroad. Estella, after leaving Drummle finds a vocation for herself, one that enlightens her at what could have been her life and she realises all the errors she has made but how to change the course of her life and makes amends particularly with Pip.

I found it hard to decide how I felt about Estella when I turned the final page. On the plus side it offered a well-rounded view of a female character only seen through the male gaze in the original novel. The book was generally well written, save for a few historical inaccuracies, some of which the author commented on in the end matter; meanwhile, the prose was atmospheric and set the scene beautifully. However, I never fully engaged with the story or came to care deeply for Estella as I read. I always felt somewhat detached, my mind working to compare everything against the original novel every time such scenes presented. In some ways, I wonder if this book will better suit readers who aren't as familiar with the source material and therefore have no preconceptions about the characters and their actions. I will personally give this book three stars. It was by no means a bad read; it just lacked that extra spark I was looking for.

I really enjoyed this story about Estella. It was a fun way of hearing her side of the story and kept me enthralled throughout. Our bookclub has just finished reading Great Expectations so when I saw this title I was immediately drawn to it as the story was fresh in my mind and it was like continuing the story but from another angle. I liked the references to the works of Dickens such as Oliver and snippets of Estella's fictional life. I chuckled at the mention of Jarvis's mother as being an 'old hag', at age 62, which is my age now!
I liked the ending of the story which is very different to Great Expectations but fitted in really well. Estella endeared herself to me far more in this story than in Great Expectations and Kathy George did a wonderful job of showing us a possible life of Estella, without all of Pip's angst from Great Expectations.
Highly recommend this even if you haven't read GE.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it as an ARC.

What an imaginative and compelling re-telling of the Victorian classic Great Expectations! Estella gets to tell her side of the story and it is a stunning comprehensive portrayal. For an author to take on such a challenge and deliver it so effectively speaks volumes of Kathy George’s writing ability. Her talent shines here in being able to step inside characters from a highly recognised novel and to shape a story around them into her own creation. Kathy has provided clarity and filled in the missing pieces of Estella’s unusual life. I also truly felt transported into the world of Dickens. The gothic atmosphere, the period language, the Victorian culture and the haunting settings embraced me in such a profound way. It all seemed very authentic. Ms George’s command of language captured my imagination so persuasively I could not put the book down once I entered its pages. The descriptions are exceptional. All my senses were engaged. I could even picture the costumes for it was as if I was watching a period drama, true to form and style in every way.

I also loved the fact that the author mentions some of Dickens’ work in the text: appropriately placed so that it becomes a ‘sort of’ cameo appearance. Of course, she provides a full Dickens cast besides Estella and Pip. And the misty marsh setting is quite important—even taking on a character’s role. Estella’s love of it haunts her—a shroud of rustic beauty. And for Pip, it is his childhood home—a place of danger and uncertainty and where many events happened.

Estella (like Pip) is an orphan. She is the prime focus of this novel. Taken from her mother at three years of age, she is adopted by the wealthy and strange Miss Havisham who lives in Satis House, a dark and oppressive dwelling. This eccentric woman surrounds herself with subtle reminders of disappointment. She was jilted on her wedding day and spends her life seeking revenge through the innocent, beautiful Estella by shaping her into a person who must become a heartbreaker of men. She is taught the cruel tactics of leading them on and then breaking their hearts. It is a sad passage to satisfaction for Miss Havisham and the control is deeply wounding to a young impressionable Estella. Miss Havisham’s peculiar training takes its toll on the girl’s relationships, even on her dear childhood friend Pip, who has been faithful and devoted to Estella from the start. For she is expected to break his heart, too. Despite these terrible learned actions, Kathy George shows us that Estella is capable of being more than just a cold and uncaring heartbreaker. It is true that Estella has experienced little joy in her life as a result of her tragic upbringing, where she was given adult responsibilities at a young age, but she has found some comfort and kindness in the housekeeper who has been one shining light in her life. So, in that respect, she has had another woman figure to offset the cruelty and lead her (eventually) to what she seeks.

In this novel we get to see a fairly well rounded picture of Estella: who she is and wants to be but also the tragedy that made her into a pawn. Once she grows up and returns home from France with an education, she bumps into Pip again. He is a person of wealth now. Will his improved station draw Estella closer to him? But Miss Havisham is not done with her yet and begins seeking a husband for her (which Estella does not really want). And worse still is the fact that she sends Pip on a mission to try and find a husband for Estella—which is a cruel task in itself knowing Pip still loves her. Sadly, Estella falls once again to Miss Havisham’s control and marries a dreadful man— putting her in an even more isolating circumstance. Will Estella ever break free from all the chains of control that bind her? Will she realise what she has in Pip?

I absolutely adored the ending of Estella which is different from the one of Dickens. As we all know from reading Great Expectations, Estella is indeed a changed woman from the trials she has endured but there is a piece missing in her redemption that Kathy George delivers in her version. Those of us who are Romantics will appreciate this new satisfying ending. Choosing a more fulfilling outcome for two characters who have gone through such horrific agony and change, made my heart cheer! I totally recommend the wonderful Estella to all Classic literature lovers. It swept me away to the much loved Dickens world and it will do the same for all who enter its haunting domain. A well-deserved 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for my review copy.

Although it is many years since I read Great Expectations,, Estella and. It’s Haversham are characters that stay with you. It would be tricky to write about someone else's character and keep to the essence of the original author. In this book, Kathy George has kept true to the time. From Estella's unusual upbringing to her finding her place in the world, we treated to a marvellous journey in history. I did like that despite some Estella's harshness, especially towards Pip, she was kind most of the time. Her treatment of Matilda and Daisy showed a kind attitude, even if she was incapable of making good decisions about her own life. The medical slant and her independence in learning her new role was interesting to read, as was the portrayal of gender issues of the time. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy to review and enjoy.

A retelling of Charles Dicken’s ‘Great Expectations’ through the eyes of Estella. Estella is adopted by the sad and sometimes harsh Miss Havisham at 3 years old but the housekeeper Mrs Butters provides a motherly figure that Estella needs in her difficult and unusual upbringing. Estella’s life at Satis House is lonely until a young boy Pip comes to the house as a playmate for Estella. We learn of Estella’s life away from Satis House and how she strives for independence.
Estella is such an interesting character and I really enjoyed reading about her life in so much more detail than what is written in Great Expectations.
An engaging read and one that will make you want to return to Great Expectations with the new knowledge of Estella and her life.

I always love a good classis and anything that comes alive from those classics always takes my interest. This is the story of Estella from Great Expectations and this is a story through her eyes. This story really brings Estella to life and I enjoyed reading the story through her eyes.

I found that in this book Estella really did come to life and became a person I liked and this made the story more real to me. I think I will now go back and read Great Expectations and maybe even reread this one again after as I really enjoyed both stories and think this is such a well written and well rounded book.

For lovers of classics and lovers of learning more, this is a book for you.

‘I am not aware of how old I was when I was taken from my mother.’

Have you ever wondered, reader of ‘Great Expectations’, about Estella’s story? About where she came from and what happened to her? In ‘Estella’ Ms George retells ‘Great Expectations’ from Estella’s perspective. Imagine: a child formed into womanhood by a vengeful Miss Havisham, shaped to capture the hearts of men, and to break them. Pip is provided by Miss Havisham as playmate and test. After being schooled in France, Estella returns to London where she meets Pip again. But Pip is not part of Miss Havisham’s life plan for Estella. While Estella seems to have little choice but to follow Miss Havisham’s wishes, she does make some friends of her own. But encouraged by Ms Havisham, she shuns Pip and then makes a disastrous marriage which further isolates her. Can Estella break free from Miss Havisham’s control and conditioning to find her own place in life?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, revisiting some of the characters from one of my favourite Charles Dickens novels. I can imagine Estella, now, much as Ms George portrays her: a woman of contradictions. Estella is both caring and cold. She is enigmatic, feisty and guarded. Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Estella is a beautiful and hauntingly compelling read with a headstrong and enigmatic heroine. I was mesmerised by Estella and really came to like her. I loved that it's a modern classic with different twists.
Pip was a favourite character of mine and I felt plenty of love for Estella despite her different upbringing. I was so mesmerised by the story of Estella that I read it in one day.

This is the story of Estella from Great Expectations and is told entirely from her point of view. It keeps to the novel but fills in all the details about Estella that Dickens doesn’t include, so making her a more rounded and more human character.
I love Great Expectations, it’s one of my favourite Dickens novels, and I just loved reading Estella. It has great atmosphere and detail, the characters from the original novel do not do anything out of character and it was great to revisit them from a different angle. And then the ending…I didn’t realise how into this book I was until the ending! It’s wonderful! Just a perfect read for me.

Kathy George, Estella, Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction), 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Fiction, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Estella is yet another novel in which an author takes a secondary, or even the main character, from a classic and weaves a new story. As is so often the case, the female character has previously been posed against a male character who takes centre stage. In Estella, the female character takes that place, and we see her relationships with her adopted mother, a lawyer, the various men who attract her attention, and whose attention she attracts, from her perspective. In addition, Estella has some interests that are hers alone rather than associated with a love interest. At the same time, Estella is a romantic novel, both in its attention to Estella’s romantic interests, its resolution and its depiction of the landscape in which Estella grows to maturity.

Estella is adopted at three years old by Miss Haversham, the well-known character from Dickens’ Great Expectations. Estella’s story explains her cruelty and unreal expectations from life, as well as moving beyond her depiction in Dickens’ novel. Her loves of the marshes becomes entwined with a romantic figure; her pleasure in deploying her sense of humour and determination to be independent also elicits a friendship with a local boy who is well below the station to which Miss Havisham has elevated her; and her long lived friendship with Pip, also familiar from Great Expectations, is a continuing theme. Estella at first adopts Miss Haversham’s training to treat men badly, and later through her own experiences begins to acknowledge that her own feelings should be reflected in her behaviour towards others.

I have some reservations about the novel as, although it is well written, I did not find it exceptionally engaging. However, there are some lovely descriptions of the marshes and the gas light that engage Estella’s attention: one as an image of freedom, the other as a recall of her past. The desire for freedom from society’s expectations and Estella’s strength, physically and of character, are well drawn in her riding, her medical reading and experiences as a midwife. Through these images Kathy George develops a character who moves well beyond Dickens’ interpretation of the young woman who broke Pip’s heart. This new Estella is a young woman who grows throughout the novel through knowledge of herself and understanding of her past.

Kathy George has written a novel that provides a well-rounded picture of Estella, a young woman who deserved this new treatment by a writer who has brought new life to her. The novel also gives the reader some effective glimpses into Dickens’ other characters and the environment in which he wrote.