REVIEW: Five Daughters Out at Once by Jayne Bamber

ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK

After the untimely death of their parents, Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are left to make their own way in the world...until Lady Catherine de Bourgh intervenes...

The orphaned Bennet sisters do their best to get by at Longbourn until their cousin Mr. Collins finally comes to claim his inheritance, two years after the death of Mr. Bennet. Hot on his heels is his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a woman consumed by grief of her own after the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrible fire at her estate, Rosings.

While her nephew Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s interest in the five orphaned girls, her niece Georgiana thinks it just the thing to soothe the dowager’s low spirits. Moved by the bonds of sorrow and a shared contempt of Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine offers the Bennet sisters her protection and assistance in society—and what better way to help them than to find them all rich husbands?

Much to her chagrin, Lady Catherine is not the only one to meddle in Meryton’s marriage mart—Richard Fitzwilliam joins her, at leisure to make mischief, Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress in her own right, has a secret of her own. Meanwhile, Georgiana Darcy finds herself inspired to write a novel that will document—and change—the lives of her new friends.

Tensions rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s plans—for very different reasons. Chaos ensues and plans go awry as the great lady rents Netherfield Park and hosts a horde of single gentlemen in possession of good fortunes, who must be in want of wives. Will the Bennet sisters find love and happiness? What other Austen heroes and rakes might appear in the once dull village of Meryton? Will Darcy and Lizzy overcome the obstacles of their own making?

FIVE DAUGHTERS OUT AT ONCE by Jayne Bamber. Published April 7, 2021

REVIEW by Christina Boyd

Working my way through my to-read (listened to) list and found this gem by Jayne Bamber.

After the untimely death of their parents, Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters are left to make their own way in the world at Longbourn—until Mr. Collins arrives two years later to claim his inheritance, followed closely by his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Still grieving the loss of her husband and daughter in a tragic fire at Rosings, Lady Catherine is unexpectedly drawn into the lives of the orphaned Bennet girls, offering them protection and assistance in society with the idea of helping them all secure rich husbands.

What follows is a clever and entertaining spin on Pride and Prejudice, as Lady Catherine’s well-intentioned meddling collides with other forces in Meryton’s marriage mart. Mr. Darcy is shocked by his aunt’s sudden interest in the Bennet sisters, while Georgiana sees the situation as a chance to lift her spirits—and even begins writing a novel inspired by the unfolding events. Meanwhile, Richard Fitzwilliam arrives with a taste for mischief, and Charlotte Lucas, now an heiress, is quietly harboring a secret that complicates everything further.

Tensions inevitably rise between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they both bristle at Lady Catherine’s schemes for very different reasons. As Netherfield Park is rented and a host of eligible gentlemen arrive—each “in possession of a good fortune” and therefore presumed to be in want of a wife—chaos ensues and carefully laid plans unravel. The characters are very likable, and this clever reimagining kept me fully engaged throughout the audiobook narrated by the talented Stevie Zimmerman.

Jayne Bamber, author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jayne Bamber is a lifelong Austen fan and a total sucker for costume dramas. Jayne read her first Austen variation as a teenager and has spent more than a decade devouring as many of them as she can. This, of course, has led her to the ultimate conclusion of her addiction, writing one herself.

Jayne’s favorite Austen work is Sense and Sensibility, though Sanditon is a strong second. Despite her love for Pride and Prejudice, Jayne realizes that she is no Lizzy Bennet, and is in fact growing up to be Mrs. Bennet more and more each day.