His Family Objects: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

By: Lucy Marin

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

You will find me here, patiently awaiting you.

AFTER THEIR UNEXPECTED MEETING AT PEMBERLEY, Elizabeth Bennet believes that she and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy have been afforded a second chance at love. Even with the news of Lydia Bennet's elopement with George Wickham could surely only delay their happily ever after. After his visit to Longbourn in the autumn, Mr. Darcy must go to London but promises to return within a fortnight. Elizabeth does not doubt an engagement will result then once he returns.

DARCY FINDS HIMSELF UNABLE TO RETURN to Hertfordshire until his friend Bingley's wedding to Miss Jane Bennet. Heartbroken, he then knows it is impossible for him to make an offer of marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. Feeling he owes her some explanation, he informs her that his family is against their union—and that he now agrees with them.

ONLY ONE PERSON could prevent him from begging Elizabeth to be his wife: his beloved, fragile sister. Georgiana Darcy cannot bear to even hear Mr. Wickham's name, much less imagine her own brother related to the scoundrel. For his sister, Darcy will give up the only woman he could ever love.

ELIZABETH STRUGGLES TO SET ASIDE HER LOVE for Mr. Darcy, while he attempts to find it within himself to wish her happy with another man. After all, he can offer her nothing while his sister's health remains uncertain. When circumstance brings them together, a shocking crisis occurs, causing both to once again question what their future might bring.

©2024 Lucy Marin (P)2024 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Heart Breaking yet beautiful P&P

I loved the story was mostly about Darcy and Elizabeth, although more of Georgianna too. It was a very well thought of variation. Stevie Zimmerman as narrator is always the best bonus

Darcy family pressures leaves ODC lovelorn.

Stevie Zimmerman gives her listeners yet another outstanding performance with His Family Objects. She and Lucy Marin made my eyes leak multiple times. Definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book.

With Darcy’s help, the Bennet family has avoided ruin following Lydia’s elopement. Leaving Elizabeth at Longbourn, he promises to return to her, fully expecting to propose, but their happiness is threatened by unforeseen circumstances awaiting him in London, no thanks to Lady Catherine’s interference, and her malicious manipulation on matters which will undermine his plans.

Georgiana’s well-being remains fragile, deeply scarred emotionally following the Ramsgate affair. In this variation, the Fitzwilliam family is aware of her failed elopement with Wickham, and the mental health issues that plague her. While she likes Elizabeth, she fears that a marriage to her brother would place her in company with the man who abused her. Despite his deep love for Elizabeth, for the sake of his sister’s health, Darcy gives in to the overwhelming pressure placed upon him by his family.

Elizabeth and Darcy are tragically torn apart by his family’s disapproval. Despite everything they feel for each other, each face their private torment—Elizabeth with her shattered hopes and Darcy in his duty-bound sacrifice. The story leaves our dear couple lovelorn, with the stark realization that sometimes love is not enough to overcome all obstacles.

A couple of character portrayals provide a surprising contrast—Colonel Fitzwilliam disappoints with an unusual lack of support, while his older brother Viscount Bramwell becomes the only supportive family member—at least for a time. As to Bingley, while ignorant of some of the events taking place, his character is improved and faithfully exhibits a strong brotherly portrayal for his new and ‘favourite’ sister, Elizabeth.

Framed within a love story of broken promises, Lucy Marin has presented an emotional and well-written narrative that gently brings to light the challenges of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) within the conservative bounds of Regency society. While this retelling reaches into the more somber aspects of mental health, I love that she beautifully preserves the all-important romance that lies at the heart of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Highly recommend. Have some tissues handy.

Kisses only.

Enjoyed!

Lucy Marin has become one of my favorites. She writes smart and emotive stories. Easy to recommend this one too. Stevie Zimmerman is always top shelf.

Good story

This story was a bit dark. A love not possible. A dark subject due to Georgiana’s illness. But still good. Great Jaff

Enjoyed this brave approach

Georgiana has difficulties getting past the trauma of Wickham. And rightfully so. This book is an interesting approach, reality actually, of how Georgiana must have felt when faced with the fact that her brother (Darcy) would be brother in law to the treacherous Wickham should Darcy and Elizabeth marry. Therefore, Georgiana and the family are opposed to the match of Darcy and Elizabeth.

This makes sense. Can you imagine the trauma and fear that G would feel? Being afraid that Wickham might come to visit with Lydia? It makes sense the predicament that Darcy was in. He had to protect his sister, and that took precedence over marrying Elizabeth.

I never thought of that before in the P&P book or movies.

I won’t give away the ending. But either way. Whether Elizabeth marries Darcy or Mister Grey, I know she would be happy.

Funny. I was actually rooting for Mister Grey. That’s how good and realistic this variation was.

What you’ll do for someone you love.

Stevie Zimmerman!

I disliked the characterization of Richard Fitzgerald.
Not true to Jane Austin original text. I hated the constant shaming of Darcy for loving Lizzy.

DNF - Col Fitz wildly OOC

darcy giving in to family objections after already establishing a real relationship with lizzie was a variation i was eager to explore. I love some good angst and hurt/comfort. however, several things stood out to me early on as bad signs regarding characterizations and story telling

1) darcy folded like a wet paper towel. it took one confrontation with his family for him to decide lizzie wasn't worth it (after already spending a year in canon deciding she *was* worth it). this seems out of character for a man who has been holding his own as master of a massive estate since he was in his early 20s

2) col fitz is almost as bad as lady Catherine regarding darcy/lizzie, but for different reasons. lady c is clearly only worried about Anne while col fitz has different concerns, but he is just as bullheaded about them. col fitz isn't strongly developed in canon, but that kind of behavior seems at odds with a man who is often characterized (even in this book) as incredibly close to Darcy

3) the author often tells instead of shows. as mentioned above, darcy folds after one argument with his whole family at one time. a better way to go about this would have been separate arguments with different members, so we can really see them whittling away at his resolve. and what leads to the argument is Lady C having an almost omniscient understanding of darcy and lizzies relationship to that moment. she just drops a bunch of exposition on the fitzwilliam clan to incite the initial argument and dips out. the author wanted a "spark" moment to set off the explosions, but didn't go about actually setting up the explosives

it could get better later on, but I couldn't get past maybe ch 12? I'm a col fitz lover and this characterization was so out of left field that, on top of everything else, my suspension of disbelief just completely collapsed