Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this ARC.

This is some heartwarming Jane Austen fan fiction that takes place four years after the events of Pride & Prejudice. Charlotte Lucas who was married to parson Mr Collins finds herself a young widow in need of consolation by friends, but as Lizzie Bennet is busy, she sends her younger sister Mary.

What follows is a historically inaccurate but very sweet wishful thinking sapphic regency romance with a lot of yearning and longing and misunderstandings plus a third-act breakup, before a happy ending that is fit for the times can ensue.

You don't need to be queer or a Jane Austen fan to enjoy this slow-burn romance, though it might help. Recommended, especially if you like to learn about the meaning of flowers.

It is with some irony that I must announce that my final completed read of the year is undoubtedly my best read of 2024, and not only that, this book may be the best sapphic book I've ever read.

Everything about this book just worked so perfectly, it's well written, the characters are both enjoyable to read about and well developed and the chemistry between the main characters is perfect. Additionally, it works fabulously as an addition to pride and prejudice and fits into that pre-existing world relatively seamlessly. It feels like a typical historical romance (aka not one of those that mixes being historical with more modern language etc). There is a small number of liberties taken with the realities of queer people during the Regency era but nothing too extreme (it's not set in a gay Regency utopia or anything but the way is smoothed some).

I am quite notoriously extremely picky and harsh reviewer but I truly cannot find a fault in this book. The only thing that personally could have made it better for me is if it was butch x femme but also that would not make sense at all for this book so it cannot be part of my critique.

Undoubtedly a must-read for sapphic romance readers and historical romance readers alike. Will be pushing this book on everyone as part of my gay agenda.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK and Atom for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is one of the best books I've read this year. Such a good story. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod is an NA sapphic regency romance book that takes place 4 years after the end of Pride and Prejudice.

I liked the author’s takes on the characters and their relationship, both with old P&P characters and original ones.

(potential spoiler)


Personally, I wouldn’t call it a slow burn, since they were pretty heads over heels for each other from the start, more or less.
Regardless, it didn’t ruin the read for me, and anyway, the sapphic yearning and the chemistry were top-tier.

I was hoping until the end for Darcy and Lizzie’s cameo, but I totally understand why the author chose not to do it and to focus on Mary and Charlotte's relationship only.

I highly recommend this book to Pride and Prejudice fans and Regency romance lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the ARC.