It Taught Me to Hope

De: Jann Rowland

Narrado por: Harry Frost

Jann Rowland presents a must-listen for fans of wholesome Regency romance.

©2025 Jann Rowland (P)2025 Tantor Media

What happens if Elizabeth does not take her trip?

3 1/2 stars rounded up for the story, but five stars for the narration.

In this variation, Lydia disappears before Elizabeth’s trip with her aunt & uncle. Due to this, Darcy does not find out and is unable to help search for Lydia and Wickham. The story picks up six years after this event. All the remaining sisters except for Elizabeth have married. Mr. Collins has passed away along with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.

Georgiana has taken her brother to task about grabbing or taking a chance at his happiness. So he does that and shows back up to see if he can woo Elizabeth. I did enjoy the time they were able to spend together, but I thought Elizabeth held out longer than she should.

Overall, it was a nice second chance story and one that I will absolutely listen to again due to the outstanding performance by Harry Frost.

Good, but too drawn out.

Harry Frost’s performance is outstanding as always; I can find no fault there—five stars!

I enjoyed the premise of Elizabeth being mistress of Longbourn and how the plot unfolded, but for me it was somewhat drawn out, repetitive in places, and could have been tightened on the editing side.

Also, unless I missed it somehow, Elizabeth never tells Darcy she loves him, which was a great disappointment after waiting the entire book for her to admit it, especially to him.

Excellent P&P variation

There’s a difference between a P&P variation, which is a refreshing new story using the same characters, and a retelling, which leans on much of the same storylines and verbatim quotes from Austen’s original. In this book, which is a variation, we get a fresh new story. Same characters. Same personalities, but a new experiences.

This story is low angst and enjoyable. The narration is excellent.

A Captivating Rendition of a “What If” Scenario

It Taught Me to Hope offers an exceptional exploration of the far-reaching consequences that arise from even the smallest changes in events. Jan Rowland does a remarkable job of delving into the personal journeys of not only Elizabeth and Darcy, but the entire cast of characters. Set six years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Rowland’s insight into their personalities is both rich and believable. The alternate timeline he crafts feels not only plausible but truly engaging.
The novel offers a fresh perspective while staying deeply rooted in the essence of its characters, and the occasional nods to the original canon are delightful. The characters themselves grapple with “what if” moments, and these reflections are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding layers of depth to the story.
As always, Harry Frost’s performance is nothing short of superb. His narration brings the story to life, capturing the emotion and nuance of the characters with such ease. A truly satisfying and entertaining listen from start to finish.