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Quick answer: If you liked The Other Bennet Sister, read Mary B, Longbourn, Eligible and Death Comes to Pemberley. All retell Jane Austen's world from fresh points of view or continue it with new twists.
Janice Hadlow's novel tells the story of Mary Bennet, the plain, bookish sister in Pride and Prejudice, and imagines the life she might have had. The books below share its interest in minor characters, Austen's world and quiet growth. Most are historical or literary fiction, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary B | Katherine J. Chen | Adult | a similar approach |
| Longbourn | Jo Baker | Adult | below stairs |
| Eligible | Curtis Sittenfeld | Adult | modern retelling |
| Death Comes to Pemberley | P.D. James | Adult | continuation |
| Austenland | Shannon Hale | Adult | fantasy fun |
| Bridget Jones's Diary | Helen Fielding | Adult | modern comedy |
| Miss Austen | Gill Hornby | Adult | Austen's world |
| The Jane Austen Book Club | Karen Joy Fowler | Adult | book club fun |
| Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Adult | the source novel |
| Emma | Jane Austen | Adult | Austen's heroine |
| Persuasion | Jane Austen | Adult | second chances |
| Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen | Adult | sisters |
| Mansfield Park | Jane Austen | Adult | quiet heroines |
| Northanger Abbey | Jane Austen | Adult | bookish heroines |
| Cranford | Elizabeth Gaskell | Adult | quiet communities |
1. Mary B by Katherine J. Chen
Another novel about Mary Bennet, who proves clever and unexpected. A sharper, more comic take.
Best for: a similar approach.
2. Longbourn by Jo Baker
Pride and Prejudice seen from the servants' side. Earthy, human and moving.
Best for: below stairs.
3. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
A modern retelling set in Cincinnati, with the Bennet sisters in their thirties. Funny and sharp.
Best for: modern retelling.
4. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Six years after the wedding, a murder disrupts Pemberley. An elegant mystery in Austen's world.
Best for: continuation.
5. Austenland by Shannon Hale
A woman visits an Austen-themed resort in England. Light, funny and romantic.
Best for: fantasy fun.
6. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
A British woman records her year of self-improvement and love. A modern take on Pride and Prejudice.
Best for: modern comedy.
7. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
The story of Cassandra Austen as she destroys her sister's letters. Quiet and sad.
Best for: Austen's world.
8. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Six people meet monthly to discuss Austen's novels. Warm and witty.
Best for: book club fun.
9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Witty and sharp, the original.
Best for: the source novel.
10. Emma by Jane Austen
A confident young woman meddles in matchmaking and learns about herself. Funny and kind.
Best for: Austen's heroine.
11. Persuasion by Jane Austen
A woman reunites with a man she once refused. Austen's gentlest and most mature novel.
Best for: second chances.
12. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Two sisters with opposite temperaments face love and money. A classic of family and feeling.
Best for: sisters.
13. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Fanny Price grows up in a wealthy relative's house. Quiet and morally serious.
Best for: quiet heroines.
14. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
A girl who loves gothic novels visits an old abbey. Light and funny.
Best for: bookish heroines.
15. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Gentle sketches of a small Victorian town run by women. A classic of village life.
Best for: quiet communities.
How to Choose
For more Mary Bennet, read Mary B. For another side of Austen, Longbourn. For humor, Eligible, Austenland and Bridget Jones's Diary. For originals, reread Persuasion or Northanger Abbey. Retellings are best enjoyed after you have read the book they borrow from, so refresh your memory first. Austen retellings are most fun if you know the original. Take a break between retellings with one of Austen's own books. Many libraries have audiobooks narrated by skilled actors, and a Regency-era costume drama can make a good companion. If you finish the book and want to dig deeper, consider a biography of Jane Austen or a nonfiction history of Regency women. Many readers find that knowing about the limits placed on unmarried women in Austen's time makes Mary's story even more affecting. Local Jane Austen societies also host talks and reading groups.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Other Bennet Sister about?
It follows Mary Bennet from her lonely childhood to her adult life and a chance at happiness.
Do I need to read Pride and Prejudice first?
It helps, but the novel can be enjoyed on its own.
Who is Janice Hadlow?
A British television executive and historian who wrote this as her first novel.
Is it a romance?
It includes romance, but the focus is on Mary's growth.
How long is it?
About 600 pages in the hardcover.
Why do readers love Mary Bennet?
She is the overlooked sister who gets little attention, so many readers relate to her.
Is The Other Bennet Sister a sequel?
It is a retelling and expansion of Mary's life, starting before Pride and Prejudice and continuing after.
Is it humorous?
It has humor, but it is also gentle and emotional.
Is there a film?
No film has been announced.
Is Mary Bennet really the plain sister?
In Austen she is bookish and awkward, and the novel gives her little attention, which Hadlow uses as a starting point.
How is Hadlow's Mary different from Chen's Mary B?
Hadlow's Mary is quiet and thoughtful, while Chen's is sharper and more defiant.
Does the novel follow Elizabeth and Darcy?
They appear, but the story stays with Mary.
Is the book good for Austen newcomers?
It helps to have read Pride and Prejudice, but it is not required.