Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC!

This was such an interesting take on the the love lives of a pair of the side characters from Pride & Prejudice. I really enjoyed getting to know both Charlotte and Mary better. The story included really great exploration of what a sapphic love might have looked like in that time. While there were places and moments that felt repetitive in the book, overall, I really enjoyed it. I loved the focus on flowers and their meanings - I love that flowers were central to a lot of important moments in the book. I loved the life that Mary had created for herself. And I loved the way jealousy showed up in the book. I loved the relationships both Mary and Charlotte had created with their household servants.
This was a genuinely delightful book, and I hope to read more from McLeod in the future!

Oh my gosh, I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, and it was such a pleasant surprise. I am always looking for good sapphic books and this absolutely delivered. The tension between Charlotte and Mary was evident from the start, and it made me all the more invested. Their developing friendship felt very natural which made their romantic and sexual chemistry feel very realistic. And of course, the spicy scenes were very enjoyable.

My only gripe was the third act breakup, but that's my own personal preference. It made sense within the story, especially because Charlotte is so new to acknowledging her queerness and her insecurities, but it irked me nonetheless.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys regency romances or Pride & Prejudice spin-offs. It was such a sweet story with low angst, and I enjoyed it a lot!

This was a very fun twist on a beloved story. The romance between the two were sweet and endearing! Definitely a great read!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod is a third person-POV historical romance reimagining of what happens after Pride and Prejudice from Charlotte’s POV. Four years after getting married, Mr. Collins passes away and Charlotte must adjust to life as a widow. Charlotte’s best friend, Elizabeth, sends her sister Mary to keep Charlotte company, but nobody expected Mary to reignite feelings Charlotte had long buried.

As a long time fan of Pride and Prejudice, I requested this one as soon as I saw it. I don’t think I will ever get tired of seeing how authors put their own spin on this classic and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. We don’t get time with the leads from the original story, but we do get brief life updates of Elizabeth and Darcy, Anne de Bough and her mother, and Jane and Charles Bingley. We also get to more of the larger world all of the characters are part of and the sphere of influence Darcy truly has even though his reputation was subpar at best before his marriage.

Mary is fairly entrenched in the Queer community of the time and has had at least one other partner prior to meeting up with Charlotte again. As a character, Mary has grown a lot and isn’t the same somewhat oblivious character as she was in Pride and Prejudice. Given what happened with Lydia (which does get brought up) and the four year time skip, it felt believable that Mary could transform into someone who is more confident though still bookish and will go after what she wants while realizing the pressure society and her mother are placing on her. Mary and Charlotte talk a lot about the language of flowers, which had some significance in the Queer community in the Victorian era.

I really appreciated how Charlotte has always been kind of aware of her feelings for women but doesn’t really embrace it until she’s thirty-one and after her husband has passed. Some people really do figure their sexuality out in their thirties and forties and even later, in part because compulsory heterosexuality is so strong. Charlotte more seems to think that there’s nobody quite like her so she doesn’t even really consider going out and finding community until she reunites with Mary, which speaks to the loneliness many Queer people without community feel even if they constantly push it aside. Charlotte tried to make the best of her marriage, but it’s with Mary that she can finally be herself and I love seeing Sapphic couples happening a little later in life.

I would recommend this to fans of Pride and Prejudice reimaginings and retellings and readers looking for a Sapphic interpretation of two minor characters in classic literature

Charlotte was your very typical English wife who is more concerned with what society thinks of her than doing anything about her own feelings. Luckily, once Mary enters the picture, Charlotte’s personality is suddenly much more likeable and relatable. Not sure what to do with her growing feelings when she never knew such a thing was a possibility. I loved the exploration of her self discovery and journey of finally accepting that her feelings are more important than expectations. Her concerns were valid, especially for someone who had never felt anything like that kind of overwhelming feeling of true love. It was definitely enjoyable to see her grow a backbone and be able to tell Mrs Tremaine off and be able to hold her own in academic discussions. Her passion for flowers was truly felt, and I loved how she used her knowledge and love of flowers to declare her love and intentions with Mary.

Mary on the other hand was instantly loveable. I couldn’t get enough of her wit, charm, intellectual maturity, and her not so subtle hints of feelings toward Charlotte. Every emotion, whether she was frustrated, inspired, infatuated, angry, or in love, felt authentic and real. I couldn’t help rooting for her from the very beginning. I also really adored every moment when she was teaching Charlotte something, whether it was how to make love, how to hold her own in an academic lecture, or how to not give a damn about societal expectations. Her progressive views and mature understanding about what truly matters in life was very admirable. She definitely had great chemistry with Charlotte, I only wish Charlotte wasn't so oblivious and didn’t have to struggle so much internally to believe that Mary’s feelings were genuine.

As far as side characters go, I honestly enjoyed all of them and that usually doesn’t happen. That only makes me wish we had more time with some of them and got to know them a little more. For example I would have loved so much more information about Delia and how she and Mary became so close. I also wanted to know how Mary’s Aunt Cecily became so progressive and accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. And Pitt seemed like he had an interesting life and backstory that we didn't get to hear much about. Along with Mr. Mellor and how he got to be so kind and accepting. Between Mrs. Tremaine and Anne, they provided the right amount of tension despite not knowing much about them other than their relationship to Mary. They were all just developed enough to appreciate and add to the story in their own unique way and fit the setting and worldbuilding wonderfully. Despite never having read Pride and Prejudice, I still enjoyed the setting that was perfectly painted that seemed to follow what I already knew about that time period and societal expectations.

I do have to admit that I found myself skimming a lot of tedious details and descriptions, especially in the slow beginning of the story. It didn’t take away from the fairly decent pacing of the story, I just personally wanted to get the romance quicker. Even though the slow burn became a little too much for me, I know it is supposed to fit the narrative a certain way, especially when Charlotte is discovering her sexuality for the first time, which I know from experience takes time. Once Charlotte and Mary discovered their mutual intentions toward each other, I just wanted more. Which made the inevitable forced third act breakup all the more upsetting and annoying. Charlotte at that point was unnecessarily self-deprecating herself even though it was more than clear how much Mary loved her. Even with the predictable plot and rushed ending, I absolutely loved and adored the romance, characters, and the historic England setting, along with all its societal issues.

This book was fantastic! I've read quite a few books written in the style of Austen, but this sapphic followup to "Pride and Prejudice" was one of the best. The love story was well plotted, and the writing style really made me feel like I was reading something out of the 1800s. I also enjoyed the queer touches all throughout the book via side characters and an apparently robust queer scene in Canterbury! Mary's character didn't appeal to me much, but Charlotte was such a dear. That said, they really are a lovely match. I hope the author will continue writing about their world, even if the stories feature all new characters unrelated to P&P or other Austen works.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide an unbiased review!

“God, Mr Collins had always claimed, did not have a sense of humour. Charlotte had privately thought if that were so, perhaps God had not yet seen her husband without clothes on.”

Rating: 3.5 starts
This was ok. I really liked the premise which is that Mr Collins passes away a few years after his marriage and Charlotte is left to fend for herself and redefine how she wants her life to look like. She asks her friend Lissie Bennet to visit but she can’t and instead send her sister Mary to keep Charlotte company. With the arrival of Mary, Charlotte starts questioning her sexual orientation and it turns finds out her feeling might be reciprocated!
I really enjoyed the first half but felt the second half dragged and it was just taking tea or reading. The ending also felt rushed and there were secondary plots that were not explored at all.

I thought Charlotte gave off Sapphic vibes in the original story, so I was really pleased to read this imagining of Charlotte falling for Elizabeth's younger sister Mary. This was pretty much exactly what I expected, a lovely historical Sapphic romance with the surprise of being a little spicy. Fans of queer historical fiction will enjoy this, especially those who enjoy flowers.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet
by Lindz McLeod
Pub Date: April 29, 2025

✨ Sapphic Romance
🥹 Friends to Lovers
🏳️‍🌈 Secret Dating
🌸 Bridgerton

A sapphic, slow-burn romance set in the Pride and Prejudice universe. You don’t need anything else about this book besides the fact that it is perfect!

After being married for four years, Mr. Collins dies and leaves his wife Charlotte in a predicament. She’ll be forced to leave the parsonage soon and has to portray a grieving widow in mourning even though she’s not heartbroken. She writes to her beloved friend Lizzie for help, who then sends her sister Mary Bennet to keep Charlotte company.  Either way, only Charlotte can determine her future.

Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend to any reader who enjoys reading retellings, especially historical fiction with some romance (sapphic anyone lol)! I have to say this might be one of the best retellings I have ever read…do yourself a favor and read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carina Adores, and Lindz McLeod for the ARC and for allowing me this opportunity to read and share my thoughts!

#historicalfiction #lgbtgia #romance #retelling #netgalley

I love queer Pride & Prejudice fan fiction! This book set up realistic queer characters, fantastically played off the original story. and provided something that felt aimed at me, a queer reader. One minor issue, which is probably just personal preference, is that the MC overthinks, rabbit holing to an EXTREMELY annoying extent. I loved this book!

When Lindz McLeod takes readers into the world of Jane Austen four years after the conclusion of Pride and Prejudice, they will never think of Regency England in the same way again! The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet follows the budding relationship between the quiet, forgotten Bennett sister and the practical Charlotte Lucas, Lizzie Bennett’s best friend. The novel opens with the death of Charlotte’s husband Mr. Collins, and while she isn’t heartbroken by his death, she finds herself alone and in need of a home once again. Since Lizzie is unable to leave Pemberly, it is Mary Bennett who arrives to comfort the grieving widow.

Mary brings Charlotte to her Aunt Cecily’s house where Charlotte discovers a whole new world. Mary has blossomed into an intelligent flirtatious woman who knows exactly what she wants from life, and as Charlotte’s intimate feelings for Mary grow, she has to navigate a lifetime of gender, sexual, and social conditioning to accept the possibility of a new life with the woman she loves.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennett is a sapphic love story that explores queer love during the Regency Era. Mary and Charlotte are not alone in their sexual identity; Charlotte discovers that her own Aunt Ethel had a female lover, and everyone who works in Mary’s home pursues a “more secret kind of love.” Although Charlotte wrestles with internalized expectations of societal rules, she ultimately finds acceptance in the arms of her family and passion in the arms of the woman she loves. The relationship between Mary and Charlotte is a slow burn, and readers looking to enjoy a Jane Austen aesthetic with a contemporary twist are sure to be delighted with the plot and characters. Mary and Charlotte converse through a language of flowers, secretly confessing their attraction to each other before finding the courage and space to talk to each other openly. McLeod gives two of Jane Austen’s most sober side characters their own happily-ever-after, and it is a joy to watch their love story unfold. If you have ever dreamed of reimagining the romantic possibilities in Pride and Prejudice, add this book to your list today!

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

A queer post-P&P featuring a Bennet sister and Charlotte? Yes please!!! What an amazing concept. I was so pleased do get this eARC—thanks NetGalley and Lindz McLeod!

The last 25% of this book was really, really great. I enjoyed both Mary and Charlotte, and really loved the leaning into flower meanings.

The start was a real slog though, I struggled with the pacing and it nearly put me off the book all together.

I read a lot of JAFF, and I was looking forward to this one. The Mary Bennet as a blue stocking trope is one of my favorites, not least because it’s so easy to see Austen’s Mary maturing that way. McLeod’s
Charlotte was also quite clearly recognizable as Austen’s Charlotte a few years down the road. I liked the believable glimpse into gay life in Regency times and I very much liked the central love story which seemed organic and not forced. It was a little angsty for my personal taste and, more seriously, the book dragged a bit. If it had been more tightly edited this would have been a 5 star review.

Thank you Harlequin Romance and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this one. All thoughts are my own.

I did enjoy this read, but not nearly as much as I had anticipated.

It was soft and sweet and I really enjoyed the exploration of being queer during the regency period and what it meant for people like Charlotte Lucas. I also loved the in-depth inclusion of flowers and their meanings.

But I found this book quite slow. Not just a slow burn (which I usually love) but full of meandering and very little in the way of plot.

I wanted to get to know both Charlotte and Mary far more intimately than I felt I did. Outside of Charlotte’s love of gardening and Mary having an interest in science, I feel as though I barely know anything about them. I certainly didn’t connect with them on an emotional level.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for this copy of "The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet."

I'm always enthralled when reading Jane Austen re-imaginings by the creativity and inventiveness of the authors in making the stories fresh and exciting.

Charlotte Lucas Collins is a widow after four years of marriage and her future security is unsure, having to vacate the parsonage. She asks her dear friend Elizabeth Darcy to visit but Elizabeth has a sick child and suggests that Mary visit instead.

Mary Bennet has undergone a wonderful transformation after living with her aunt in Canterbury and flourishes while she's out of her sisters' shadows.

Will Charlotte find the courage to follow her dreams or will she remain bound by strict Regency society and family expectations?

I especially enjoyed the language of flowers that was used to portray feelings and emotions. Like a secret code so people could exchange messages without words.

I DNFed this one.

Partly this book was not quite for me and partly I'm not sure the author has a handle on the source material. Mary comes across as very whimsical, rather than very serious and studious (she even criticizes her teenage self) while Charlotte feels very stilted and uncomfortable all the time - even in her own brain.

The attempt to sound like Jane Austen leaves this book wanting something else. Instead of handling the time period and style with grace, I think it hindered the author.

As an AVID Jane Austen super fan, this was everything I wanted it to be. Lindz McLeod truly captured the perfect Jane Austen tone and humor, but with a twist. McLeod included lots of figurative language and metaphors and things not often found in current romances so I loved that it had that literary skill that Austen brought to her writing. It also felt so true to the story and the personalities of the characters. I could truly believe this is cannon. 😂 Mary and Charlotte were so likable, fun, and relatable. Even as someone not a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I felt like I could relate to and understand Charlotte’s journey of first experiences and finding herself on her own terms. I have always loved Charlotte’s character and I have read a few “spin-off” books about her that I did not feel like truly captured who she is like this story did. It left me feeling happy and giddy just like Pride and Prejudice does. LOVE!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A slooooow burn as Charlotte slowly learns that gay people exist, that she's one of them, and that she has feelings (that she believes are unrequited) for her bestie's little sister. The slow burn is lovely and delicate, and Charlotte's awakening is beautifully done. I think it's easy to read canon Charlotte as queer, and even canon Mary to some extent, but this Mary doesn't really feel like canon Mary who was pedantic and desperate for attention. Mary here is smart and carefree and uninhibited by social mores in the open society she frequents in Canterbury. I do think she's a wonderful character--and I would have liked to have had her POV as well--but she could've been anyone, and didn't have to be Mary Bennet.

By the end of the story, the major obstacles for Charlotte seem to be tacked on--she's worried about embarrassing her family by...going to live somewhere else rather than returning home? This was even before she was offered a job, which would be somewhat of a descent for her, but not in a scandalous way that she keeps comparing to Lydia Bennet running off with Wickham. The job offer and later the offer of becoming an heiress both seem sudden and a way to easily grant her money and therefore the ability to have more choice. She worries about what her sister and her parents will think of her loving Mary, but she doesn't end up telling them, at least not that we see on page. The convenient wrap-ups and some historical inaccuracies (e.g. forms of address) didn't really work for me.

4.5

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I've read quite a few Jane Austen universe novels, and this is one of the better ones. I'd put this up there with The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow in terms of feeling true to the characters in the source material and maintaining an elegant writing style throughout that compliments Jane Austen's original writing while still being a bit more natural for a modern reader. Both books also explore the nuance of Mary Bennet and what a happy ending for her might look like, but in this case it is because her story tangles with the protagonist Charlotte Lucas/Collins.

None of the original characters from Pride and Prejudice felt overly villainized here, which I appreciated. It also felt like a fairly organic insertion of LGBTQ+ representation into the historic setting, although it did seem like there were an awful lot of lesbians in Mary's neighborhood.

The story is quite slow paced and focused on Charlotte's journey of opening her eyes to consider more than the most practical path and allow the layered petals of who she is as a person unfurl and bloom.

Overall, I would definitely recommend to fans of Jane Austen's characters and fans of queer historical romance.

Content Warnings:
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism

Sapphic Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fans, this one’s for you! This was such a lovely read. It started off a little slow for me, but once I got used to the writing style, I flew through it. So much yearning and longing, and I couldn’t get enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance for an ARC of this book