Kitty & Mary Review

As a massive Pride and Prejudice fan, I was hugely excited to receive a copy of Kitty & Mary The Forgotten Bennet Sisters in the post. Especially with a Pride and Prejudice adaptation on its way on Netflix, The Other Bennet sister adaption being so successful and an upcoming Sense and Sensibility film; Austen fever is hot right now and something I’m definitely feeling too. 

Before I even read the book I thought the premise was very promising; Austen’s characters, even the sidelined ones, are always fun and unique and lend themselves to writers to create their own stories. I felt that by focusing on Kitty and Mary that the book didn’t encroach on Austen's original work which is something that these kinds of books can do. Julia Gray and Imogen Russell Williams navigate this balance really well. This is definitely in the world of Pride and Prejudice but doesn’t change or take anything away that could affect how I felt about the source material. It does perhaps lean to a more Bridgertonesque tone for a period romance rather than an Austen purist tone but I think for a book that’s catering for a variety of readers this was a good approach. 

The book is an epistolary novel which really works tonally and makes the characterisation very strong. It functions well within the time period of the novel and helps to build the world of a period romance without spending too much time on exposition. It also allows for some really funny moments in the book; characters' changes in tone between letters and diary entries are hilarious- especially when we get their honest insights that they may be obscuring from other characters. It means both Mary and Kitty have that Austen heroine trademark of being awkward, funny and socially inept. 

The book focuses on Mary and Kitty (obviously) on their individual journeys. Mary on a voyage to India and Kitty as she hopes to find a husband in the new tenant in Netherfield Park. Whilst a voyage to India seems far more adventurous compared to Kitty’s story, I actually felt that this helped balance the book out and neither story felt overwhelming, unrealistic or focused on one sister more than the other. 

I was interested to see how a book with a fairly light tone would approach a narrative where an English character goes to India in 1813. I was pleased to see that this wasn’t a part of a troubled history that was ignored. Whilst not going into extreme detail of the cultural/political/historical context, the prejudice and persecution is covered in an empathetic and age appropriate way. Indian characters and culture don’t feel ‘othered’ within the writing itself and instead are celebrated. Moreover in regards to the approach of the novel, a neurodivergent reading and understanding of Mary's character and identity was achieved in a subtle and caring way that read beautifully on the page. 

Whilst I felt the pace perhaps lagged a bit in the middle, this wouldn't be something that would put me off the book by any means. Although Mary’s story was exciting and adventurous it was actually Kitty’s story that was truly my favourite. The themes of self discovery and acceptance were so relatable and tangible. Her journey was something that I believe a lot of teen readers could relate to and has some important messages embedded within the writing. 

Overall, I would say this is a great book for Austen fans of all ages but also a great introduction for teens or young readers who haven't yet read classical texts. There is humour, light and joy all throughout this book. At the center is a lovely relationship between two sisters that feel both relatable and distinctly Austen inspired