There You Were: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

This was a very satisfying read, with a lot of angst, just how I like it. It is very well written, with an original variation of P&P, some good villains, and lots of hardship with a well-earned HEA.

I cried so much, laughter out loud, and simply Loved both of her husbands. This is a story where her in laws hate her (Elizabeth).I resisted this story because I do not like Elizabeth and anyone else.However the life they had was hard, but not sad.I gave it 5 stars because he did not take any shortcuts nor did she make the HEA immediately happen. I appreciate the effort and creativity.I hope you read this but make sure your realize this is a story where Elizabeth does not have servants.

Impressive story. Made me laugh and made me cry. While there are names remind us of Pride and Prejudice, it is essentially a story free of Pride and Prejudice.Read it. Enjoy it. Recommended!!

But in many ways it feels more like characters with the names of Austen characters but entirely different personalities. Additionally, some of the plot points felt entirely too modern for the Regency period.However, those nitpicks aside, the storyline was good, and you should give it a try if you’re not devoted to canon or the period in which it is set.

This was not Jane Austin's style of writing--not only because of being written in first person POV. I'm undecided on this author.

I have never read Michelle Ray before this book. I loved it. It was exciting to read a totally different view of all the characters. The twists of family and relationships was intriguing.. There a tragedy that was heart wrenching and many obstacles to a deserved ending. Read it.

Was very stirring, not a true proper Janette story. Some parts disappointing, including Wickham's outcome. Just a hard version to wrap my brain around.

Although I liked the story I found it disturbing. The situations that Elizabeth found herself in were difficult to read. She had to cope with a drunken father, an abandoned mother, indifferent in laws, a husband with battle scares and homeless. Married at sixteen, had four children and became a widow by her twenty four birthday.This variation isn’t for everyone, especially for those who hated conflicts. However, it’s worth the read because of strong characterization of Elizabeth. How she handled her life in face of adversity.I would read again.

This incredibly well written story is deeply evocative and quite touching with lyrical prose.By starting this story with teenaged Lizzy and a very young James (colonel) A completely fresh view is brought out. This isn't the entertainer raconteur of typical Fandom. Nor is this the witty, elegant Elizabeth of canon. This is a 'multiple hanky' Cinderella-like tale of broken people in broken families, loss, growth, rescue, and a second chance at love.One of the very best JAFF stories I've ever read.

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice VariationTHE PREMISE: An unloved and unregulated Elizabeth Bennet becomes tangled in a compromising position and an unexpected marriage at the young age of sixteen. Her life veers off into a path that she never expected it to as her days are full of household chores, fretting about money, and tending to her children single-handedly. But what happens when her life takes another drastic change in course…MY THOUGHTS:This outside-of-canon Pride and Prejudice variation is full of some dramatic deviations! There are only two Bennet sisters, Jane and Elizabeth; Mr. Bennet – in addition to being cruel and beyond negligent – drinks excessively; and Mrs. Bennet, who abandons her family at a young age, has very little maternal feelings or responsibilities. Other interesting changes include the Fitzwilliam family. Lord and Lady Broxbourne reside in Hertfordshire and are neighbors to the Bennets. And even though their son, James, is a childhood friend of Elizabeth and Jane, the Fitzwilliams despise the scandalous and uncouth Bennet family as a whole.The originality of this Pride and Prejudice variation is most striking. Some might lament that there isn’t much that resembles or parallels Jane Austen’s story or characters. But I personally love it when authors take bold liberties and employ innovative alterations with these characters as Michelle Ray did in There You Were. Yet, aside from all the provocative changes and enthralling twists, what I appreciated most about this premise is the connection to Jane Austen’s Lydia Bennet. Elizabeth is Lydia in this story. Her story closely parallels Lydia’s in P&P – the parental neglect, the unchecked behaviors, the high animal spirits, the patched-up business of her marriage. Such a thought-provoking parallel to explore. Will readers pass judgment and condemn Elizabeth the same way they do Lydia, or does she engage more of our sympathies and compassion…The hardships Elizabeth endures in this story are heart-wrenching and sometimes painful to witness. This is a Pride and Prejudice variation that truly displays the realities of marrying imprudently – without money or familial support – during the Regency Era. For all the romance we love to imagine and wish for, the circumstances we witness in this story bring new understanding to why characters like Charlotte Lucas and John Willoughby chose to marry for other reasons than love. But I am happy to say for us incurable romantics – this story also displays the discovery of a liberating and all-consuming love. The type of love that has been absent for all of Elizabeth’s life. I love how this relationship developed – so gentle yet so powerful, so simple yet so substantial, so fraught with obstacles yet so destined. The author paced and evolved this relationship perfectly.While I am greatly endeared to Elizabeth and constantly admired her resilience through such a journey, there were a few times where I wish the reader could learn more about what was going on with the other characters. I wouldn’t have minded knowing some of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s dark broodings and internal struggles or Mr. Darcy’s thoughts about his first marriage and blossoming regard for Elizabeth. Since this was a first-person POV, maybe some more forthright exchanges might have helped fill in these characters’ journeys.There You Were is a heartrendingly honest yet inspiring tale about neglect, dysfunctional families, and learning to shoulder your own burdens no matter how impossible. I completely loved the novelty of this tragic premise, the author’s daring and creative insight, and the emotional connections that were so easy to establish with these characters. What a magnificent debut, Michelle Ray! Please write some more!Austenesque Reviews

After teasing many P & P variations I’ve come to expect certain things, but this book was totally different…and I loved it. It was hard to see Elizabeth struggle (truly struggle). Her life did not have any real comfort except for Jane, and my heart hurt for her. Elizabeth persevered though through people’s hatred of her, husband who was gone a lot, multiple children, household chores, and pathetic parents. Despite it all, she loved, and in the end it all came out right. I just loved this one. ❤️

Michelle Ray has done it again. I am so impressed by her skill at immersing the lucky reader in a vast range of genres and wildly different time periods across different lands. This time she has masterfully transported us to the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy in her creative adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. At turns devastating and thrilling, this beautiful love story completely captivated me. The language is lovingly wrought and I often said to my husband: ‘I just have to read you this paragraph.’ He agreed that the writing is exquisite. I finished There You Were late last night and still now have full body chills when I remember Darcy’s extraordinary act of love at the end. You’ll have to read it to experience the same!

So very different than P&P, but a beautiful story with a happy ending. I Struggled a little with the difference in families (Lydia, Kitty, and Mary are not Elizabeth's sisters) bit otherwise a good variation.

It is a dark and depressing story but vey compelling. I could not put it down because I had to see how Elizabeth would get to her happy ending!

Great read

A skillfully told story. So afield from the Canon I felt more like that was Bronte than Austen. Engaging plot, but not as much character development. Probably more true to its time than many of the "variations" that are modern stories in historic dress.

Loved this P&P variation, it was very unique, an original to be sure~I've read over 400 novels in this genre, and this one was fresh and well written, well edited, and engrossing. Although most of the story was very sad, my interest was engaged on Elizabeth's plight, her lack of support from her family, and Col. Fitzwilliam's family, Mr. Darcy was there for her. How difficult it was to be poor in that time period, the work was never ending for the women with children. I recommend this book, it does transport one to England, and it does have a lovely ending. I look forward to more from this author, thank you Michelle Ray, keep writing!

This is a great story. I loved this book.But i think calling it a P&P variation is a little misleading. The same character names are used but the plot is so far from the original that it is a completely different story. The characters have very different personalities and the entire situation is not in any way like the original.All that aside the book is an excellent well written story.

At first, I really struggled with this book. This is one where canon is almost entirely ignored. If the characters had been given different names and key lines from the original left out, it would have been an original regency romance with no resemblance to P&P whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I'm no purist. One of my all-time favorite JAFF's is very off-canon. But I feel that if an author is going to veer so far from the original, the characters must remain in tact and I think this fell just short of that.Mrs. Bennet abandoned her husband and two daughters when E was a small child. In fact, Elizabeth assumes she's dead. Mr. Bennet is a neglectful, belligerent drunk who has pretty much no care for his daughters at all. Mr. Gardiner lives with him (and is Mr. Bennet's heir for some reason) and is just as critical and dismissive of E as everyone else. Even Jane acts embarrassed by E from time to time and happily leaves her dearest sister behind to go be a proper lady in London. As for Elizabeth herself, she is a true hoyden. She hates pink and ruffles, can't hold a teacup properly, longs for mud fights and tree climbing and cannot hold her tongue to save her life. The only people who seemed true to character were Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner.But once I got passed that, I began to really appreciate this book. At first, it was difficult to read about the poor conditions in which E and Richard lived. E learning to do laundry, cook, clean, having baby after baby was tough. The Fitzwilliam's hated her and went out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for the young couple. But, oh my God, so refreshing! JAFF authors and readers (myself included) seem to want E to live in paradise and never have any spot of trouble. It was very interesting to read about our favorite heroine not falling back assward into luxury and happiness. What I really appreciated what that, despite the trials and difficulties, E and R were, mostly, happy even if they weren't exactly in love.This book was so unique and original, I can't help but appreciate it. I applaud the author who dared to go against the norm and not write a blissful, easy road (if paved with misunderstanding) to a HEA. This book will not get lost among the hundreds of JAFF stories I have read. It was emotionally taxing, and is not a happy book. But well worth the read.I deducted one star for so many characters being borderline unrecognizable. I also struggled with the idea of Darcy falling in love with a woman so decidedly beneath him. Elizabeth Bennet of canon, despite her declarations and likeability, is not Darcy's equal. This Elizabeth Bennet is so far removed from that, it's almost laughable.

Rarely is it that I read a book on Kindle Unlimited and, immediately upon finishing, buy it. This is one of those times. I've read a few others by this author, but this fast became, and will continue to be, a favorite in my library. I appreciated how the book artfully escapes canon. I read A LOT of JAFF and I have to say, IMO this is one of the best departures from canon that I've ever read. I eagerly look forward to reading this author again!

***a few spoilers below!**A unique, non-canon variation. While some characters are familiar, the author shapes them to be uniquely her own. Something about the tone of Elizabeth’s narrative felt a bit anachronistically modern. That said, it felt like a quick read despite some heavy and angst subject matter; I read it over 3 days.The early stubborn and selfish behaviour of the protagonist toward the beginning was probably my least favourite part as didn’t sit super well with me from a realistic perspective. As the story went on, I found the characters and their plight more and more endearing. By the end, the story had won me over (despite being desperate to give a bit of a slap to a few of the ‘baddies’!)I’m not sure if this will appeal to traditionalists for Austen variations as **spoiler alert: this story includes prior marriages/children for some beloved characters** and it doesn’t necessarily read quite accurately for the time. There is much angst and heartache on the way to an eventual HEA, and that may not appeal if you prefer an easier path to happiness.I think it WILL appeal to those who look for genuinely original variations and character treatment, as it is certainly a fresh take on both. I found the final half or so particularly refreshing, as it gave a great insight into the protagonist and she finally came into her own strength and power without the childish decision-making of her younger years.I give this 4 out of 5 star (probably started as a 3.5 for me and ended at a 4.5). I’m not sure this will be a regular repeat read for me, but I will definitely be reading it again.I received this for free as an Advanced Reader Copy, but would probably pay around $5.99 for it.

Loved the book. After sorting out the different scenario from Pride and Prejudice, I found this Elizabeth to be a great protagonist, brave and successful in the face of Shakespearean turns and an often cruel society. If you like this, read the author's two most recent prior books (Outlaw and A World on Fire) with similarly strong women fighting against rising tides of society against them.

Elizabeth lives with her father, sister Jane ,and Uncle Gardiner at Longbourne. Her mother left home years before after a loss. For some unusual reason Mr Gardiner is the heir to the estate rather than someone on the paternal side. That was not explained. The Fitzwilliam family lives nearby and are snobs except for their second son Colonel Fitzwilliam who ends up compromising a young Elizabeth. In the family anger they decide to withhold any and all support, and its Darcy's assistance in building them a cottage that saves them. Life is very difficult with poverty, no support, children ,and the Colonel having nightmares after battle. While at home he's killed trying to prevent Wickhams elopement with his young sister, leaving Elizabeth destitute with 4 small children. If not for Darcy's assistance they would be in the poor house because no one is assisting her - not the Bingley or Gardiners. It's truly shocking how little those in her family do for her and how vindictive Colonel Fitzwilliam's parents are - even selling the land her cottage is on, and keeping the proceeds from the sale of his commission.Of course Elizabeth and Darcy end up together but its still sad. Her husband dead, his wife and child dead ( yes, he had married Anne) and both the Fitzwilliam and Caroline Bingley threatened to destroy his reputation if they marry. It's almost a Shakespearean tragedy in Derbyshire!

A significant departure from canon to explore how Elizabeth changes and grows as she confronts a series of difficulties and daunting circumstances. This is much more interesting than the standard “what would have happened if the letter were not read” P&P variation. However, I wish the author had gone further with character development both for Elizabeth and the other dramatis personae. Hence four stars, though this is a much better book than many rated five.

I have been reading a lot of the Pride and Prejudice genre because I love Elizabeth and Darcy. I've enjoyed most, but this is the best one yet! The characters and their personalities are pretty true to the original. But this story line is wonderful and so well written! I was right there the whole way! Couldn't put it down! Finished at 4 AM (and thankful to not have to go to work)!Thank you and I'll be looking for more of your books!