Genre: Historical, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Jay
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About The Book
The year is 1811 and the new rector of Hunsford, Mr William Collins, must be above reproach. He must be respectable, pious, good at losing at quadrille, and disapproving of popular novels. Above all, he must obey his terrifying patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
When William’s boyhood friend Jem arrives, looking for safe harbour from the press-gangs, William’s ‘perfect clergyman’ disguise begins to slip. A farm labourer’s son, Jem is gentle and loyal, and being with him is all William wants. Soon, Jem and William renew their youthful intimacies—until Lady Catherine’s demands come between them.
Can William find a way to navigate the Regency marriage market without losing his beloved Jem?
This m/m historical romance is a Pride and Prejudice spin-off and features characters from the original novel by Jane Austen alongside original characters.
The Review
This short novel is altogether delightful. It is, like other books inspired by the writings of Jane Austen, a kind of fan fiction, but almost everything is turned on its head.
Mr Collins is given a credible back story and a somewhat endearing personality. When Lady Catherine tells him he must ‘be in want of a wife’ he feels obliged to seek out his distant relatives – the Bennet sisters – but is desperate not to jeopardise his growing relationship with Jem, the gardener’s boy of his childhood, who has come back into his life.
Lady Catherine, the Bennet family and Charlotte Lucas are all portrayed just as Austen wrote them, but William Collins’ viewpoint is different and refreshing. The writing style is true to Austen and to that period of literature in general, but we are also treated to the development of a thoroughly modern or timeless relationship with all its problems and pleasures.
This is one I shall definitely be re-reading, and I recommend it to anyone wanting a new take on MM Regency romance.
The Reviewer
I’ve been doing book reviews on my website, crossposted or linked to various social media, for a few years. I read a number of genres but I really enjoy all kinds of speculative fiction so thought I’d like to share my views with you. I love sci fi and other speculative fiction because of the way it can, at its best, make us see ourselves in a new light. Quite apart from the exciting stories, of course! I used to be an English teacher, and I’m a writer (fantasy) so I can be quite critical about style etc. but I hope I can also appreciate properly some books that don’t appeal to me personally but might be simply perfect for others. I have, obviously, read widely, and continue to do so.
