The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet (Lizzie Bennet Diaries)

by Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley

[lindsey]

(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

As a huge fan of  The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I was so excited to get approved for this book.  Some companion novels don't work well, but The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet does.  It picks up where The Lizzie Bennet Diaries leaves off, and it's a very smooth transition.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is a modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, which just happens to be one of my favorite books.  A retelling of Jane Austen is nothing new, but The Lizzie Bennet Diaries manages to be unique, while still being faithful to the general themes of Pride & Prejudice.  If you're even a little familiar with the story of Pride & Prejudice, then you can probably already guess the plot of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, but, again, it's unique and modern enough that it seems fresh and original.

I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't yet read Pride & Prejudice or watched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, so I'm not going into too much detail about the plot.  Basically, Lydia is trying to get her life together after the events of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.  Everyone knows her as wild and party-loving Lydia, and she is determined to become more responsible, and to prove to her family that she has changed.  Getting her act together is harder than she thought it would be, and she is close to giving up several times.  But, with the help of her sisters, and a couple of new friends, she learns it's never too late to change.

The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet deals with moving on, working through seemingly insurmountable problems, letting go of past regrets, and self-esteem issues.  It's an extremely well-written novel, and Lydia's distinct voice shines through on every page.  She's an endearing character, and you can't help but hope everything works out for her.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I would suggest reading Pride & Prejudice, and then watching The Lizzie Bennet Diaries first.  Either way, though, I would highly recommend this book.