Sport for Our Neighbours

De: Melissa Anne

Narrado por: Stevie Zimmerman

What if Mr. Bennet had changed everything—five years before Bingley let Netherfield Park?

When old friends from his university days visit Longbourn, Mr. Bennet is forced to confront the consequences of years spent in idle amusement and neglect of his family. Determined to do better by his wife and daughters, he takes a more active role in their upbringing, their education, and their futures.

By the time Mr. Bingley leases Netherfield five years later, the Bennet family is very different. The daughters are accomplished, poised, and sensible—and the household is one that garners admiration rather than ridicule.

When Mr. Darcy first encounters Elizabeth Bennet, he is immediately intrigued—not only by her beauty but by her wit, confidence, and keen mind. She, in turn, is drawn to the man behind the proud exterior. Sparks fly, and a connection forms quickly. But not everyone welcomes their growing attachment.

As whispers circulate and schemes take shape, Darcy and Elizabeth must navigate not only figuring out their relationship but also the meddling of those who would keep them apart. Can their connection withstand the pressures of pride, prejudice, and plotting minds?

©2025 Melissa Anne (P)2025 Podium Audio

P&P but with self-awareness and accountability!

Loved this take on the much-beloved original storyline. For anybody who finds P&P hard to watch/listen to because of the weakness of the characters (especially the male characters), try this one! Nobody ends up getting away with anything, lol. We all need friends like old Mr. Bennet had, to shake him up and help him to see the costly errors of his ways. There were some unexpected endings as well. I'm taking away one star just because it was a couple hours longer than it needed to be, with several conversations/situations being dragged out into way too much detail. This book illustrates what an enormous difference it can make in children's outcomes when the adults in their lives step up and do what needs to be done, instead of shirking responsibility and hiding away in a study (or these days, I guess it would be hiding behind a phone, etc).

An excellent variation!

I enjoyed the history of Mr, Bennett and the connections he made during his education! His lifelong friends were able to correct his lack of motivation in helping his family!

I’ll be listening to this audiobook again!

A ‘Page Turner’

Melissa Anne creates the most enjoyable tales using some of the most recognizable plot devices in her own unique way. She has become a favorite author. This was an early meeting (in this case in letters from both their fathers and later with each other,) between Elizabeth and Darcy Premise. I love these scenarios. All the conflict comes from outside their bond. And the author provides plenty of conflict in this story. Exciting nearly up to the end where things are solved.

The author uses a number of other familiar plot elements in this story, and I am not going to tell you about all of them. But this is one of my favorites: Mr Darcy senior is friends with Mr Bennet from their Cambridge days and with another university friend and young Darcy go to Hartfordshire to visit him. George Darcy is disturbed with the way Bennet has let his estate go down hill, and the way his wife and youngest daughters act, and that he has all but transferred all his estate duties over to his second eldest daughter who is only 15 at this point in time. He takes him to task for all this in such a strong way that Bennet listens and starts to make productive changes on his family’s behalf. They all change for the better, some slower than others. I love it when Mr or Mrs Bennet gets a wake up call like this.

Since Elizabeth and Jane were visiting the Gardiners when this university comrades get together happened they only hear about Lizzy. She sure sounds intelligent, responsible and caring in the Darcy’s view. Darcy senior tells Fitzwilliam that he should marry for affection and if she is not of the ton and she was someone like Elizabeth he should marry her.

Seeds are sown in more than one character’s mind on that trip that bears fruit in the best way throughout this tale.

Highly recommended. Of course most admired narrator hasn’t ever let us down.

Fantastic!

I think one of my favorite pride and prejudice variation tropes is the Bennett family getting their crap together. I really enjoyed this narrator, as she's always fantastic. I believe this is my third book from this author and she has not let me down at all. Having a partial acquaintance from an early onset helped the plot and it moved with a perfect pace.

Mr Bennet gets a wake-up call

4 1/2 stars rounded up and a solid 5 for the fantastic narration by Stevie Zimmerman!

In this newest Melissa Anne variation, we find out that Mr. Bennet and Darcy Sr, along with another, were close friends at university. Upon a visit five years prior to canon, his friends give Mr Bennet a very serious wake-up call on not only his families behavior but his neglect too. Once this settles in, Mr Bennet strives to improve. Does the family have it easy? Nope, as there are growing pains they all must deal with.

For the reader who loves lots of Darcy and Elizabeth together early in the story, this will fulfill your wish. They do have to contend with a few villains but they are dealt with. The ebook was good but the audiobook was better.