Mary B. by Katherine J. Chen

Usually, I think retelling a classic must be one of the most difficult tasks an author can attempt so I am happy to say that Katherine J. Chen has done this with the same flavor, style and wit of the original. Mary is the much abused, teased and ignored of all the Benet sisters and despite her intelligent demeanor she still falls for the advances of some of the eligible bachelors in the area. It would be comical in many ways but you can't help but feel sorry for Mary as it seems all of the sisters find their match. The story showcases the world of the haves and have-nots and how truly phony the search for a mate was in Regency England. I enjoyed Mary's willfulness and her quest to find something more in her life than what society expected of her. A terrific debut and I can't wait to see if the author will continue in another Austen classic.