Happier in Her Friends than Relations

A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Friends & Relations)

By: Jayne Bamber

Narrated by: Sadie Pepperrell

In this angsty fusion of two of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels, Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility, the actions of their sisters cause challenging chain reactions for one of literature’s most celebrated couples....

Fitzwilliam Darcy is faced with a family crisis of epic proportions after the fallout of his sister Georgiana’s ill-fated elopement in Ramsgate, while his friend Charles Bingley is persuaded to abandon his scheme of renting Netherfield Park.

Elizabeth Bennet journeys to London to recover her spirits after Jane’s unexpected marriage changes the sisters’ relationship forever, and despite an attempted reconciliation, Jane is revealed to be far from the angel Elizabeth has always admired.

The bonds of friendship offer Elizabeth a lifeline after a series of tragic events causes her to fear for her future. The support she receives from her new neighbor Marianne Brandon and snarky socialite Lady Rebecca Fitzwilliam may yet prove to heal her broken heart and bring her closer to a happily ever after. The wide array of characters from throughout Austen’s works teach Elizabeth Bennet that she is truly happier in her friends than relations.

Author's note:

Please note that this volume has been heavily edited and revised since original publication, based on suggestions from previous reviewers.

This is book one out of a three-book series. Most storylines will be resolved by the conclusion of this story, but minor characters' stories will be left not fully resolved, for continuation in book two and book three. The Friends & Relations series is an epic saga that peers into the lives of all of Jane's Austen's heroines, imagining them to inhabit a world where their lives and families are intertwined. Throughout this series, characters from all of Jane Austen's major works will be revealed to have existing familial relationships and will forge new connections as well. As the lives of so many beloved Austen characters weave together, this series will address the question of what if all of Austen's works had taken place in the same world...a world where overlap was possible and surprises hide around every corner....

©2019 Jayne Bamber (P)2020 Jayne Bamber

Clearly not the reading was not edited

I kept thinking I was accidentally tapping the playback button. No, the narrator just stops and starts over. Chapter six is the worst. You can literally hear the clap board to stop and start.

Good story IF you can get past it.

Chapter 6

The reader does a horrible job on reading Chapter 6 if you can get past it it’s a great story. The ending could be better leaves you wanting.

Terrible narration

The book itself was good, but too long. However, the narrator was just awful. Other reviews (which I had not read in advance) mentioned the problems as well, and it has NOT been corrected. This is so unprofessional. I paid actual money for this so I cannot return for a refund. Audible should not be offering this for sale if it is not corrected. Until then, DO NOT BUY.

hmm.

1st. I do realize that any reader has a difficult job. Keeping up with voices, infection, adding sighs and a hint of laughter is no easy task. However! There are word she completely mispronounced that have Nothing to do with an accent.
2nd. SKIP TRACK 6/ chapter 6! This is definitely the fault of the sound editor. The skips, the pauses, repeating the same sentences several times in a row. You can hear the reader trying various inflections (in a small way an interesting insight to the world of a reader, still very annoying though), also the snapping/clap after every retake.... gah! This starts in a small way the in track before, you'll notice words oddly repeating. It mostly ends in track 7. But track 6 may cause you to just get frustrated and not want to continue.
The gist of track 6: Elizabeth and Darcy see each other at the theater. They don't talk.
3rd. The author is great. I really enjoyed the story. The story lines were fun and I liked the tweaks to everyone's personality.

It's a long one. Be patient.

Chapter 6 could use a once over (requires editing). Some of the narrative was difficult to differentiate between the characters. The story is a long one. Austen characters all mixed in. Jane is a nasty one. This representation of an evil Jane was the best I've read thus far and I've read a considerable amount of P & P fan fiction. A couple of new characters which are wonderfully placed. The final "comeuppance" of the antagonists was a little bit of a let down. No actual scenes just the "oh this is what will happen".

I did enjoy this story and am looking forward to beginning the second book of the series.