This is a unique retelling of Pride and Prejudice with Lydia as our narrator after the events of the story are complete. As we’re navigating the magical world of Lydia the witch, we learn how the events of the book came to be juxtaposed with a complete additional life Lydia was leading in the meantime. The author captures Lydia’s girlish foolishness while also restoring her credibility a bit more and making her more selfless than she is portrayed by Austen. She’s childish but she has a good heart. And the magic system she created is well done. Magic is more believable with a price and that is played to great effect throughout. This was a fun, albeit very long, book.

This was an ARC that I received via NetGalley and read before it published… on 10/3/23 😂 like I said, I’m behind on reviews lol.

This is a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. It is told from the perspective of Lydia. Lydia is a witch, Kitty is a familiar, and Wickham is truly evil. This is their story.

I liked the idea of this. I liked taking a story we all know and love but telling a behind the scenes story to go along with it. The premise was great, I just felt like it was a little slow at times. I didn’t always understand what was happening, but that may have been a “me” issue. I give a lot of credit to this author for the creativity and the bravery of associating their story with such a classic.

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub is a witty, magical, and altogether brilliant reimagining of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. Told from the perspective of the mischievous and often misunderstood Lydia Bennet, this novel reveals a hidden world of witchcraft and spells that run parallel to the familiar events of the original story.

Taub's Lydia is a captivating and refreshingly complex character. Unlike her portrayal in Austen's work, this Lydia is no mere frivolous social butterfly. She is intelligent, independent, and possesses a hidden magical talent that she struggles to control. As Lydia navigates the societal expectations placed upon her, she also grapples with her burgeoning magical abilities and the danger they pose.

The addition of magic to the story adds a layer of intrigue and excitement that Austen fans are sure to enjoy. Taub cleverly weaves spells and magical creatures into the existing narrative, seamlessly blending fantasy and historical fiction. The result is a fresh and captivating story that stands on its own while still offering a satisfying nod to the original.

The novel's strength lies not only in its imaginative premise but also in its sharp wit and insightful exploration of female agency. Lydia's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, as she learns to embrace her unique talents and defy societal expectations. Through her eyes, we see the world of Regency England in a new light, one where women are not merely objects to be married off but powerful individuals capable of shaping their own destinies.

Here are some of the things I loved about the novel:

Lydia's voice: Taub captures Lydia's mischievous and witty personality perfectly, making her a relatable and engaging protagonist.
The blend of magic and history: The addition of magic adds a layer of intrigue and excitement to the story without overshadowing the historical setting.
The exploration of female agency: The novel celebrates Lydia's strength and independence, offering a refreshing perspective on women's roles in Regency England.
The humor: Taub's writing is witty and humorous, making the novel a joy to read.
The romance: The love story between Lydia and Mr. Darcy is both heartwarming and suspenseful.
Overall, The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is a delightful and captivating read that will appeal to fans of Pride and Prejudice and fantasy lovers alike. It is a witty, insightful, and ultimately empowering story about a woman who chooses her own path and embraces her unique talents.

Here are some additional thoughts and considerations:

The novel may be too lighthearted for some readers who prefer a more serious take on Jane Austen's work.
The inclusion of magic may not appeal to all readers, especially those who prefer purely historical fiction.
The novel is relatively long, but the pacing is excellent, and the story is never dull.
If you are looking for a fun, witty, and heartwarming read, I highly recommend The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch.

This was such a fun reimagining of a beloved classic! I believe that the book works both for fans of the original, as well as those who may not be as familiar with P&P, but are looking for a witchy, regency read.

This one wound up being far more enjoyable than I thought in the beginning. Definitely try to stick it out to at least 30%, and it starts to pick up from there! I adored the relationship of Lydia and Kitty and found the story to be quite fun and weird. This definitely paints Lydia in a far more flattering light, which was nice to see.

I love Pride and Prejudice as well as witches and witch lore, so this story was a well executed mash up of these. I feel that the author did a good job of pairing these concepts and building this world. I liked the characters. There were times were the story flow seemed to ebb a bit and the pacing lagged, but it was a good story overall and one I would recommend to others to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this arc on Netgalley for honest feedback.

This book was absolutely captivating. The characters are so well written, and you feel like you are part of their world while reading it. You can definitely tell the author researched well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I love pride & prejudice and I am obsessed with witches so I was sold immediately on this fun re-imagining. It made me actually enjoy the character of Lydia Bennett!

It was good; I love the historical aspect mix with elements of magic. the world building was absolutely beautiful written.. I would recommend to anyone who loves historical and fantasy

Pride and Prejudice retelling but Lydia's story, and she's a witch 🧙‍♀️
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I really enjoyed this! It was a very different spin on P&P, but honestly, it worked. It was a really creative story that provides a fun alternative to Lydia's beyond just being annoying and impulsive.
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Lydia is a witch, Kitty is actually a cat, and Wickham is a demon, literally, haha. But it also stayed as true to P & P as it could while being fun and a little outrageous. It is an incredibly unique and hard to put down read. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated other characters into the witchiness and explained how the magic worked. I prefer this Lydia and Wickham 100% 😂.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ recommend for those who enjoy P & P but are open to alternate realities and retelling. This was a really fun and surprising read!!

I’m not usually a big fan of attempts to add depth to awful characters and justify their awful actions (Gerwig’s Little Women being so clearly pro-Amy being one infuriating instance that comes to mind), nor of attempts to interject magic into well-known unmagical stories (a la My Lady Jane), but Melinda Taub’s Scandalous Confessions does both and does it so well that I have decided to accept it as my personal headcanon for the character of Lydia Bennet, in large part because it never excuses nor apologizes for her various sillinesses, cruelties, and vanities, nor changes any other characters in any way that would significantly alter a reasonable person’s interpretation of the original Pride and Prejudice (except maybe Wickham, but even he isn’t excused). I appreciate that Taub’s story goes on behind the scenes and beyond the final lines of Pride and Prejudice, exploring the possibility that Lydia would, indeed, come to regret her choices, and that any redemption she managed to earn would not be a smooth, straight path for her. Further, Taub’s historical research, carefully chosen language, and decision to tie in real moral and societal issues without making them feel unnecessary to the plot or like virtue signaling makes it very easy to immerse myself in Lydia’s memoir. I admit, though, what made me fall fast and hard for this book was Kitty, and I think most cat-loving readers would agree that Taub’s manner of giving her a chance to be more than an afterthought rounding out a recitation of the Misses Bennets was beautifully done.

I heartily recommend this book and look forward to owning a copy myself once it comes out in paperback.

This was a fun and wholly unique take on a Pride and Prejudice retelling told from the POV of Lydia, who in this version was not the sibling we all thought we loved to hate and in this version she has magic! One of my favorite spooky season historical fiction reads this year. I can't wait to read more from this new to me author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting to. I requested this book because it sounded like a good read for fall and Halloween and as I'm writing this review on Halloween it seems fitting.

I am pretty neutral on Pride and Prejudice retellings. I don't actively seek them out but if the plot sounds interesting I will read them. But I don't have strong opinions on narrators or characterizations. It's also been a while since I've read Pride and Prejudice. Basically I went into this book pretty blind with a rough outline of events/people from the original story.

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is told in letter/diary format from Lydia's pov. The novel jumps around in time which can be slightly confusing but also keeps readers engaged. The novel covers Lydia's childhood, her realization that she's a witch and turning her cat companion into a sister. Lydia is tutored in witchcraft by her aunt but eventually outgrows her country coven when she accidentally promises a boon to an ancient magical entity. The story then shifts to Brighton where Lydia learns more, becomes further involved with Wickham and also must defeat rival witches and magical beings. These events are all "past" and what Lydia is relaying in her letters. In the "present" Lydia deals with annoying brothers-in-laws, a demon for a husband and hexes. Everyone eventually gets their happy ending and definitely feels deserved (especially since all magic comes with a price). Wickham is surprisingly more likeable as a demon and likewise Lydia is smarter and more introspective in this version.

I think my only issue was that it was very long and some of it dragged. The Brighton setting was interesting but some of the party scenes could have been shortened or cut.

Overall, though I did really enjoy it and would highly recommend.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

I thought this was a very fun and original twist! I had a lot of fun reading this one- very autumnal vibes for September/October. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a witchy lighthearted read.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. This book was good, it was mostly like Pride & Prejudice, but just from Lydia's POV. I recommend reading this book.

I had high hopes for this book as a spooky retelling of Pride and Predjudice, but I unfortunately did not find myself able to get into it. I eventually gave up and put it on the DNF shelf. That isn’t to say that it isn’t a wonderful book, just not my cup of tea.

I love Pride and Prejudice. There is no better classic in my opinion. So I was skeptical when I picked this ARC up but my curiosity was piqued.

I quickly fell in love with Melinda Taub's version of Lydia Bennett. Yes, she was selfish and lacked common sense, but she quickly became endearing and often made sacrifices for those she loved. It was very different from how you read Lydia's character in Jane Austen's novel and I appreciated the imagining of what might have made Lydia look the way she did in the original story.

So, why did Lydia run off with Mr. Wickham? What a tale Taub spun. The adventure of little witch Lydia and her familiar (Kitty?!) quickly drew me in. The idea that the busy body women of England were using witchcraft to advance their positions and gain social standing was clever and comical. And the reappearance of Mr. Darcy also got me. Who doesn't love Mr. Darcy?

The story sort of became one of redemption for Lydia, Wickham and even grouchy Darcy. The magic was whimsical and silly. It mirrored the depiction of English society at the time.

I did find the end sort of far-fetched for where the story had been going and somewhat predictable. However, I still enjoyed it. The other negative for me was the choice to tell the story through letters/manuscripts. It was cute, but not my favorite.

If you love Jane Austen and also like a bit of fantasy, this is a great cozy read to pick up.

Stars: 4/5

Busy Girl Rating: 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy of the book. The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is now available.

This is an amazing read. Unfortunately, I started it in the evening and couldn’t stop reading until the middle of the night. It was worth the loss of sleep!

We’re all pretty conversant with Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice”, so to read that Lydia is the 4th Bennett daughter, not the 5th, was quite a surprise. The story is laid out as a document penned by Lydia,written to an unknown “you”. It’s all perfectly plausible and explains a few things scholars have questioned over the years.

This book is incredibly well written and researched. I highly recommend it, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I love reading retellings - they are so fun. Make them witchy - and I’m all in!

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch is a bewitching retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This one is told by Lydia herself as she pens the tale of a tumultuous year in her life - and she, of course… is a witch.

Her best friend and sister Kitty? A barn cat familiar. Mr. Darcy? Still as uptight as ever - and NOT a fan of magic. And Wickham? Well, he’s kind of a demon... 😈

This has all the P&P nods with courting, fancy balls, and romance - with a strange spellbinding mystery, wickedly devious demons, and all the witchy vibes. There’s hexes, and covens, and the hunt for a mystical jewel - and as Lydia learns the sacrifices one must make to use their power, she risks losing everyone she loves.

Lydia is the most witty and refreshing narrator who made me laugh out loud more than a handful of times. It’s quite the magical and enchanting story following the wildest Bennet sister… who is also now also my favorite sister.

Such a wonderfully witchy read - it’s sure to put a spell on you!

A pride and prejudice retelling with witchy magic? Sign me up! Told through the perspective of Lydia, it’s her life and her destiny.

This was a very easy read. It had all the elements we love with a twist. A good October read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.