It is quite refreshing to see how Kitty & Mary is a lovely follow-up to Pride and Prejudice, and how it has done justice to the underrepresented Bennet sisters. One cannot but help appreciate the way the author has delved into both of the sisters' journeys with much warmth, emotion, and humour. The use of letters and journals in the novel only makes the reading experience more captivating and immersive.

'Kitty & Mary' follows the two least-known Bennet sisters in their adventures after the events of 'Pride and Prejudice'. Kitty returns to Netherfield and sets her cap at its newest inhabitant - a pretentious gentleman poet named Mr Whittaker. Meanwhile, Mary is offered the opportunity to travel to India as chaperone to a relative of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The story is told through letters shared between the two sisters, their slightly more honest diary entries, and occasionally letters from their other sisters.

Though Mary doesn't come off well in 'Pride and Prejudice', at least she is attributed her own personality, while Kitty is referred to primarily as Lydia's follower, which is even more demeaning considering she is two years older. But in this book Kitty and Mary both finally get a satisfying character arc and a suitable happy ending. Often, with a dual narrative, it is clear the author prefers one narrative over the other, but with two authors in this case, both narratives were distinctive and equally engaging.

And I particularly enjoyed the way Kitty and Mary relate to each other as sisters who have nothing in common - with some bickering and contempt outwardly, but ultimately with warmth and affection developed over years of shared family experiences.

'Kitty & Mary' is a thoroughly charming read - I loved it.