The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su, Kate Rorick

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet (Lizzie Bennet Diaries)

by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

"Pure genius… a sharp, clever re-imagining… if Austen was writing now, she might have created something like this." The Guardian on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries may have started as a school project for Lizzie, but it grew into so much more, as the videos came to inform and reflect her life and that of her sisters, beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. People watched, debated, tweeted, tumblr'd, and suddenly Lizzie was YouTube sensation. But not everything happened on-screen. Lizzie kept a secret diary. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet is everything you didn't see in her videos - and more. This is Pride and Prejudiceas you've never experienced it before! Read The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet,watch the YouTube videos at lizziebennetdiaries.com and check her out on Pinterest, Tumblr and Twitter - become part of the sensation that's captured the imagination of millions of fans!

Reviewed by Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews on

3 of 5 stars

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Fond of:
I thought The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet was a nice, modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Even though I know it was based off of The Secret Diaries of Lizzie Bennet YouTube series it was still a little reminiscent of Disney's Lizzie Maguire. I also liked how the author incorporated places into this retelling. i.e. Pemberley and Grace Church Street both becoming Communications Businesses. Charlotte who is a dependent creature in Austen's novel becomes a strong independent woman who doesn't fall into romance with Mr. Collins, ewww.

Not Fond of:
For me, the wording between this novel and Pride and Prejudice was too similar. I felt like George Wickham had been plucked from Austen's novel and was parading around in a speedo. By this I mean that I didn't feel there was much originality to the characters other than modern garb and a sex tape.

Final Thoughts:
One must put aside her Jane Austen purestness and state that overall, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet was a fun read, for Austen fans and those who are just looking for an enjoyable book.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 August, 2014: Finished reading
  • 28 August, 2014: Reviewed