Bernie Su

Kate Rorick

A modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight. When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with. Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

A Novel

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

A modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is based on the Emmy Award-winning The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and follows the year-long video project of a grad student who becomes a reluctant celebrity while navigating the pitfalls of sisterhood and romance. Video tie-in.

Jazelle H

A wonderful, modern take on a beloved classic. Integrating the videos into novel truly brought the characters alive.

Connor 

Okay, so there are two parts to this review.

The first is that as far as background for the LBD videos, this is FABULOUS. Fills in a metric ton of holes, makes everything more cohesive, etc... and I loved finally getting to read the letter. Naturally.

The second half is that it's made me realize I really don't like Lizzie so much in this adaptation. She's cruel and brittle and cynical and mean, and quite frankly William Darcy (barring one comment said under social duress) is nothing but kind and polite and tentatively seeking her attention and he deserves better. There. I said it.

(Don't get me wrong, though. I still love LBD and my frustration with the characterization is in no way related to the fabulous job the actors and everyone did with the videos. It's just... a tangential observation that, being 24 myself now, Lizzie feels unconscionably whiny and immature.)

Still, a+ job putting this diary together, 10/10 would recommend for fans of the webseries.

Steph L 

This was a reread for a challenge prompt I needed quickly. I really enjoyed it and I think it's a take modern-day adaptation. I wasn't really using GR when I first read it. The first star is for the characters. They stay true to the original novel but are taken into modern times. The plot is excellent and very much reads like a modern-day P&P. The writing is good, there are no chapters, so it might make the most sense to read this by the months every time you read so you have an easy stop/ start point. The romance is good, but I wish they could have gotten together earlier in the story. The last star is for how much fun I had reading this.

I loved this book so much!! at nearly 400 pages it literally flew by! i spent maybe 7 hours total reading it from start to finish (similar to how i binged the series) because the story was just so compelling and getting it in book form just makes me so beyond happy and i honestly cant wait for lydia’s next!! my mind kept going to what if i had read this without having seen the show which would have been totally doable but i dont think i could have done it because i would have immediately searched up the video series anyways lol i just love how it works so well w the series and i LOVE HOW it exceeded my expectations!! i thought we’d get something short with big text but this is quality content meant for an older audience (meaning highschoolish?) and people who have and havent read pride and prejudice could appreciate it!!

finished once again but this time listening to ashley clements read the audiobook was just beyond incredible!! love her and love the way she read it w the characters!! so well done and now im extremely sad that it’s officially over 🥲

Patricia Santos

Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Depois do sucesso do seu videoblog, heis que Lizzie Bennet nos deixa entrar (ainda mais) na sua vida privada, dando-nos total acesso ao seu bem mais precioso: o diário onde anota todos os acontecimentos, pensamentos e sentimentos que marcam a sua vida. Bernie Su e Kate Rorick trazem para o papel aquilo que não vemos nos vídeos, permitindo-nos deliciar-nos mais uma vez e, de forma completamente diferente, desta versão refrescante, jovem e moderna de Orgulho e Preconceito. 
Escrito de forma simples e divertida, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet fala-nos das diferenças sociais, expectativas do futuro e do conceito de orgulho e preconceito, os mesmo temas que o clássico de Jane Austen, mas adaptados aos nossos dias. Desde o peso da tecnologia na vida dos jovens de hoje às difíceis perspectivas de futuro que as novas gerações enfrentam, aos sonhos próprios muitas vezes contrários às expectativas parentais e a sempre intemporal falta ou excesso de fundos financeiros, tudo isso é colocado de forma perspicaz e inteligente nesta história, permitindo-nos reconhecer-nos mais facilmente na pele de Lizzie, Darcy, Jane ou Charlotte, entre outras personagens.
Ao mesmo tempo, acompanhámos a história de Lizzie e Darcy, bem como as das restantes personagens. Cada pequena história que nos faz adorar o clássico, cada personagem e as suas manias, virtudes e defeitos, são aqui apresentadas de forma divertida, inteligente e até caricata. Já os momentos do livro são, passo a passo, transformados em problemas e situações mais modernas, onde podemos reconhecer a sua essência e consequências austenianas mas, também, a realidade dos dias de hoje. Tudo isto com humor e sagacidade, em que até os pormenores são inspirados na história original, mas disfarçados de forma deliciosa. Muitas vezes, encontrámos um certo exagero até, que não tirando a seriedade, também nos permite rir muito mais. 
As personagens sofrem desse exagero mas também, espantosamente, apesar das diferenças, de uma grande similaridade com as de Orgulho e Preconceito. Talvez menos sérias e bem comportadas, elas acabam por reflectir a juventude de hoje, divertindo-nos e exasperando-nos, conquistando-nos a cada página, cada uma à sua maneira. Irresistíveis, elas reflectem na perfeição esta história intemporal.
Um complemento à webserie que funciona perfeitamente sozinho, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet é uma versão demasiado deliciosa que deve ser lida por fãs, não fãs e até por quem nunca leu o livro de Jane Austen.

**I received a digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet A Novel

Reviews