Book Review- When Love Is True by Melissa Anne
Reviewed by Amanda Kai.
A much earlier meeting allows Elizabeth and Darcy to become friends without the usual obstacle of prejudice. At fourteen, while touring Derbyshire, Elizabeth is attacked by a stranger claiming to be Fitzwilliam Darcy. The real Fitzwilliam rescues her, revealing the attacker to be Mr. Wickham. Once Wickham is safely out of the picture, a deep friendship is born between the Gardiners and the Darcys, that culminates in love for Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam when Elizabeth becomes of age.
As in many of Melissa Anne's earlier works, the Bennets’ negative traits, especially Mrs. Bennet, are more extreme. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia suffer from what modern doctors would classify as narcissistic personality disorder. Mrs. Bennet's irrational hatred of Elizabeth eventually propels her to throw young Elizabeth out of the house, and she is adopted by the Gardiners. Her indolent father signs away all legal claims to her, and she takes on the Gardiner surname.
Her father’s sudden demand for Elizabeth to return home, just weeks before her wedding, prompts Elizabeth and Darcy to move up their wedding date, so none of Elizabeth’s Bennet relations can try to prevent their marriage. This proves providential, since Elizabeth returns home to learn her mother had been scheming for her to wed the elder Mr. Collins, a man more than twice her age.
In the subsequent years, Elizabeth gradually forms friendships with each of her sisters except Lydia, who remains as selfish as ever, and the story sees each of them find their happy endings, including a surprising twist for one of them. Lady Catherine plays a minor role, but the story’s primary antagonist is Mrs. Bennet.
I am thankful to Melissa Anne for sharing the audiobook of this story with me, performed by the talented Benjamin Fife, whose wide range gives color to a full cast of characters.
This was a long-ish story, primarily from Elizabeth and Darcy’s POV, but with some additional POV of each of the sisters. If you enjoy stories where Elizabeth and Darcy get together early and then face external difficulties together, then When Love is True is for you.
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