Unequal Affections
by Lara S. Ormiston
Summary
When Elizabeth Bennet first knew Mr. Darcy, she despised him and was sure he felt the same. Angered by his pride and reserve, influenced by the lies of the charming Mr. Wickham, she never troubled herself to believe he was anything other than the worst of men–until, one day, he unexpectedly proposed.
Mr. Darcy’s passionate avowal of love causes Elizabeth to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about him. What she knows is that he is rich, handsome, clever, and very much in love with her. She, on the other hand, is poor and can expect a future of increasing poverty if she does not marry.
The incentives for her to accept him are strong, but she is honest enough to tell him that she does not return his affections. He says he can accept that–but will either of them ever be truly happy in a relationship of unequal affection?
My Review
I will preface this by saying I am not the biggest fan of Pride & Prejudice—it has never been my favorite love story. However, I wanted to give this retelling a chance, and I am so glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I liked it even more than the original (Jane Austen fans, please don’t come at me).
The writing style felt authentic to Austen’s voice, making the book read like a true retelling or reimagining of her work. The prose is dense, so I was grateful to have the audiobook to help me move through the story more smoothly. While the narrator was not my favorite, her male voices in particular needed more distinction; she did a decent job overall.
This is a slow-burn love story that gives us much more time with Darcy and Elizabeth. The retelling begins right after Darcy’s first proposal, but here Elizabeth accepts him rather than rejecting him. From there, we follow their courtship and engagement over several weeks. The dual POV was one of my favorite aspects, as it allowed us to see deeper into both Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice, and to better understand their growth as individuals and as a couple.
I especially enjoyed seeing more dimension in both characters. Darcy’s softer, more affectionate side is highlighted, while Elizabeth gradually opens her heart and grows to love him. Their relationship is not portrayed as perfect either. They face obstacles that force them to grow together, which makes their love story feel more authentic.
The side characters also added richness to the narrative, as we see a mix of reactions to the engagement, from disapproval to genuine support. Because of the timeline shift, some events from the original do not occur here, but I actually found this version more entertaining and engaging.
Overall, this retelling deepened my appreciation for the love story between Darcy and Elizabeth. It gave me the romance and emotional connection I felt was missing from the original. Beautifully written, thoughtful, and engaging, Unequal Affections is a must-read for fans of Pride & Prejudice and Jane Austen.