The Houseguest: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary in Austen Variations

Apr 03, 2013 Sophie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, jane-austen-related, favourite-favourites

What a wonderful story! It really was a lot of fun and my favourite scenes were between Darcy and Lizzy (surprise surprise!) when she was 'The Houseguest' at their home in London. Seeing how their relationship built up, developed and changed from the first meetings at Meryton (which, lets face it, didn't go well for Darcy!) was very sweet.

It was clever how certain scenes and conversations seen in the original were included in different contexts and between different characters ('You insolent bo What a wonderful story! It really was a lot of fun and my favourite scenes were between Darcy and Lizzy (surprise surprise!) when she was 'The Houseguest' at their home in London. Seeing how their relationship built up, developed and changed from the first meetings at Meryton (which, lets face it, didn't go well for Darcy!) was very sweet.

It was clever how certain scenes and conversations seen in the original were included in different contexts and between different characters ('You insolent boy!') and how important revelations were revealed in different ways (for example the truth about Wickham and the real reason Bingley left Netherfield.)

There were still a few issues between Darcy and Lizzy which needed to be resolved, adding to the, well... not suspense, as we all know they would get together in the end, but it adds interest to the route of getting to their happy ending. And the issues weren't drawn out too long, nor were there never ending problems (it annoys me when there is just problem after problem after problem...)

I also enjoyed seeing the jealous side of Darcy! In the original, Wickham wasn't really competition, at least not for long. It was nice for Darcy to have some competition, and serious competition at that! Jealous Darcy was funny!

There were many delightful additions to the story, character wise, and I loved to get to know Georgiana and Col. Fitzwilliam more. Col. Fitzwilliam was a very funny man! He brought humour to any scene he was in!

I especially loved the relationship between Georgiana and Lizzy which became very sisterly. The whole story is based on them meeting earlier in the story and it was nice for them to meet quicker, as really, in the original they don't meet for quite a while, but once they do they get on marvellously, as they did in the variation. It didn't take long for them to get to become very close friends and the influence of Lizzy that was rubbing off on Georgiana was great, as it was giving her the much needed confidence after the blip with Wickham. Georgiana was very sweet and innocent, but as I said, she grew throughout the novel and as she and Lizzy became almost like sisters, you could see the enjoyment Georgiana had in having a sister! It was so sweet!

The ending was very sweet between Darcy and Lizzy (which is always good!) and the very, very end was a great way to finish it as it was so nice seeing what happened to all of the characters in the story, especially the new characters.

I highly recommend this to anybody who just wants to see more of Darcy and Lizzy, with a great take on the original story!
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May 07, 2014 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

2/6/14 - on Amazon: Wow, 82 reviews and most of them 4 or 5 stars-yes, I read all of them. I read this book twice within the first month of owning it. And although I am not an expert on Regency language, conventions, etc. and so can't critique such, I am a big fan of JAFF and know what I like or not in such stories. This book was a page turner and that was without the sex scenes which we find in some. I agree with the one reviewer that there was not the angst, which I personally do enjoy. Everyo ...more

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Jun 01, 2017 Nicole Clarkston rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I listened to the charming audiobook, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sweet, clever, and loads of fun, this was just the sort of low-angst but detailed story I enjoy for down time (it was my Laundry Day companion for a few weeks). Nicely done, Elizabeth! Can't wait for more. ...more

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Apr 08, 2015 Nicole Barton Sasser rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: p-and-p, jaff, audible-audiobook, kindle, giveaway-winner, 2015-austenesque-lovers-challenge, 2017-austenesque-lovers-challenge

Status:
Originally Read: April 12-14, 2015 via kindle edition
Second Reading: June 17-July 1, 2017 via audible edition

Rating:
Kindle Edition - 3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
Audible Audio - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 Stars

Review:
Audible Audio - The narration did this lovely story justice - thoroughly enjoyed!

My Library Notes:

The Houseguest: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary
by Elizabeth Adams
Kindle Edition, 306 pages
Published November 8, 2013 (first published March 17, 2013)
ASIN: B00BW88EK2

Librarian Note: Alternate/new cover edition fo ...more

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Nov 29, 2014 Deborah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ja-read, 2016-austenesque-reading-challenge

I enjoyed his story. The surprise for Darcy to come home while Elizabeth is a guest of Georgiana's staying at his house. He so wanted to forget her and now she is under his very nose. There is plenty of angst and many misunderstandings as well as match making attempts by Lady Matlock as Elizabeth becomes like the daughter she never had. Darcy even has a rival for Lizzy's attentions for a short while. I recommend this story for any lover of JAFF. Brigid Lohrey narrated the audiobook beautifully. ...more

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Nov 06, 2015 Kim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: period-romance, 2016, 2017

Love, love, love, love, LOVE!!! I so enjoyed this book. I have not yet read a Pride and Prejudice variation book with so much love. For me the biggest part of this was Georgiana's hand in their getting to know one another. I love what authors in general are able to do with Georgiana but she was excellent in this one. Also, Elizabeth being able to get to know Mr. Darcy in a setting where he is more comfortable was so great. I have not seen another variation along these lines.

2017- I still love th ...more

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