What Kitty Did Next by Carrie Kablean is a lovely continuation of the classic Austen novel Pride & Prejudice. Now that three of her sisters are married, there is just Kitty and Mary left. Despite the desire to see her last two daughters wed, Mrs Bennet is reluctant to let them travel further from home than Meryton. When Jane, Kitty’s eldest sister, invites her to London, Kitty is delighted that her parents agree. From London, Kitty goes to stay at Pemberly with Lizzy, her second eldest sister. Away from her family home, and among people who value her opinions and input, Kitty begins to blossom. She makes friends, from Georgiana Darcy and Felicia Fanshawe, to Sir Edward and Henry Adams, and begins tentatively exploring writing.
Unfortunately, her world gets upset when Lydia, the youngest, black sheep sister shows up uninvited to the Darcys’ summer ball and causes a ruckus that leaves Kitty blamed for a theft she didn’t commit. Returned to her family home under pretence of caring for her ailing mother, Kitty begins to take over more and more of Longbourn’s daily running, and to deepen her writing practise. The birth of Jane’s baby, the Bennets’ first grandchild, rallies Mrs Bennet. For a time at least. Her unexpected passing tumbles the family into mourning, and she and her father travel to London for the Christmas holidays to visit family. And it is here that Kitty will rise in fortunes, on many levels.
This story, written in a many reminiscent of the classic Pride & Prejudice, plays the long game. The events cover a year and more, delving deep into one young woman’s transformation from ‘silly girl’ to ‘sensible adult’. I did so feel for Kitty, to be labelled such things as she was. I know what it’s like to have a family that won’t take the time to recognise or foster innate gifts, and who inadvertently cause damage to a growing psyche with such assumptions of character. I was glad she ended up out of that environment, and in one that did foster her growth. It was tragic that her sister Lizzy assumed she’d fallen back on supposed old ways, with nary a chance to explain. I am glad Kitty gave a tirade against that injustice, for all the good it did at the time. However, it was Kitty’s return home, full-circle, that paved the way for all her later good fortune.
I rather quite liked Kitty. I enjoyed most of the characters to be honest, except Frederick and Lydia. The latter’s behaviour was just atrocious on so many levels, it was hard to believe she was related to Kitty, Jane, and Lizzy. Oh, and Caroline Bingley. Ugh. Asshat. Sir Edward was my favourite, overall. He seemed so sweet and caring. It was hard to see him taken such advantage of. And for some reason, Felicia made me think of Mary, from the BBC Sherlock. That was just amusing.
But really, it was descriptions of time and place that I enjoyed most. All the different estates. London trapped in fog. The pure novelty of gaslamps! The frost fair was a treat to read about, except that the testing of the ice involved walking an elephant across. What if the ice broke!? I was so afraid that would be the case, and elephant and handlers would go down.
If you love Jane Austen’s works, or particularly the characters of Pride & Prejudice, I highly recommend this book!
***Many thanks to Love Books Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
