“Mary is always trying to better herself. She wants to fit in and meet the lofty expectations that have been set for her as one of the gorgeous and gifted Bennet sisters. ””
With the release of the television series, The Other Bennet Sister, librarian and active member of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Amanda Hogue-Lavalle, discusses all things related to Mary Bennet and introduces a handful of Jane Austen Fan Fiction stories for those who can’t get enough of the middle Bennet sister.
I’ve loved Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice since my dad came home with the Great Illustrated Classic version for me in the 5th grade. Here was a world full of manners, romance, balls, scandals, and an intelligent and witty heroine in Elizabeth Bennet. I wanted to be just like Lizzie and could imagine myself stepping into her shoes and having my own regency adventures.
Unfortunately, I had more in common with the moralizing middle Bennett sister, Mary, than I did, or ever would, with Lizzie. I was socially awkward, uncoordinated, not a “beauty”, and related a lot with Mary Bennet’s struggles. I think that's why as I got older, I gravitated towards Jane Austen Fan Fiction that features Mary as a main character, and why many other people do too.
Mary is always trying to better herself. She wants to fit in and meet the lofty expectations that have been set for her as one of the gorgeous and gifted Bennet sisters. She is a very relatable character because of her awkwardness, and if someone like Mary can get a happy ending then the rest of us might also get that chance as well.
On May 6, 2026, BritBox finally premiered The Other Bennet Sister in the US, a 10-episode series based on Janice Hadlow’s novel by the same name. The series, and the book, is a Pride & Prejudice sequel following Mary Bennet as she goes on a journey of self-discovery, self-love, and a bit of romance. If the show has left you longing for more Mary, here are three other novels that will keep you in her world a little longer.
The Other Bennet Sister, based on the novel written by Janice Hadlow, premiered in the United Kingdom on March 15th, 2026, and dropped in the United States and Canada from May 6th. The series, starring Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet, has ten episodes.
The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Novel by Pamela Mingle
Lydia and Wickham have gotten themselves embroiled in another scandal, and Mary and Kitty Bennet are whisked off to the home of their sister Jane and her husband Mr. Bingley. There, the two sisters meet the handsome, and very eligible, Henry Walsh. Kitty is sure she would be the perfect wife for Mr. Walsh, but he only seems to have eyes for Mary. Mary is confused, and a little alarmed by his attention. Surely, he cannot be interested in her, or is he?
One of the main reasons I really like this P&P sequel is not the love story, but the continuing story of the Bennet sisters. Kitty is Mary’s main antagonist, where winning Mr. Walsh’s affections becomes a sort of game, but the two do come to understand each other by the end of the novel. Jane takes Mary under her wing and encourages her not to take a backseat to Kitty. She simply must not let Kitty push her into the background. Jane is patient and attentive to Mary and even enlists Lizzie to help bring out her confidence. Mary ends up becoming very close to her two older sisters, and they share some wonderful sisterly moments in this book. Lydia also makes an appearance, and is still horrible to Mary, but our heroine learns to not let her youngest sister dictate how she feels about herself.
Fans of “The Other Bennet Sister” will enjoy reading The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride & Prejudice Novel by Pamela Mingle because the heroine, Miss Mary Bennet, experiences growth in both stories. In the beginning, she is awkward, shy, and bookish. By the end, she has become confident and is able to realize her full potential.
The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet (The Secret Life of Mary Bennet Book 1) by Katherine Cowley
After the death of Mr. Bennet, Mary’s future is uncertain. She has no marriage prospects and doesn’t look forward to being shuffled between family members. Things begin to look up when a distant relative invites Mary to stay with her. Lady Trafford takes her to Castle Durrington in Sussex, where Mary thinks she is to receive an education meant for young ladies, but something is amiss. Lady Trafford is hiding something, and the castle holds mysteries around every corner. When Mary finds the dead body of a man she accused of being a thief at Longbourn washed up on the beach, Mary knows Lady Trafford is not all she seems.
I love this cozy mystery series, and it has become one of my favourite Mary stories. Yes, she goes on the typical journey of self-discovery, but she also gets herself embroiled with spies, murders, and lots of intrigue. Mary really tries to stay in her comfort zone, but if she wants to solve the mysteries surrounding Lady T, she needs to evolve into someone willing to make changes and take chances. This isn’t a story about her finding love; it’s all about evolving into the person no one thought she could be and taking charge of her own future.
Searching for a cozy mystery story that features your favorite Bennet sister? Look no further than Katherine Cowley’s The Secret Life of Mary Bennet.
The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath
Mary is the unremarkable third Bennet sister, with no great accomplishments and no marriage prospects. Her mother doesn’t expect her to amount to much and has placed her firmly on the shelf with a future as a caregiver for her aging parents. The thought of keeping her head down and accepting this spinsterhood fate brings Mary to rather low spirits, and Mary decides she needs to make some changes. When Lizzie and Jane notice how unhappy she is, Lizzie invites her to Pemberley, and then Rosings, hoping to broaden her social circle and uplift her spirits. Mary takes this opportunity to go on a journey of self-discovery determined not to be put into the box the world has made for her, which of course addles her mother’s poor nerves.
This P&P sequel is a short, but sweet read, focusing on Mary’s inner growth and self-reflection. Ms. Sarath, the author, does an excellent job with Mary’s inner dialogue, letting the reader know that Mary’s desire to change is wholly her own, and not to please anyone else. Mary’s love interest, Mr. Aikens, is fun and energetic and very much an unexpected match for Mary. However, the other characters are underdeveloped, and plots feel a bit rushed. I think this is due to the shortness of the book, and if it was slightly longer just to tie up loose ends, I would have enjoyed it more.
For those who wish to see Mary Bennet find the happily ever after she deserves, check out this book by Patrice Smith. In The Unexpected Miss Bennet , Mary may spend time with her sisters, exploring some of their old haunts, but she also proves she is still uniquely her own person.
What these three books have in common is they make readers want to root for someone like Mary Bennet. She’s not the typical heroine featured in historical romances and is someone most people overlook. Her awkwardness, intellect, and self-consciousness are what readers see in themselves. She is us, and we are her, and that is what makes her so compelling. We see her happy endings as our own and because, in these novels, we get to enjoy her varied journeys with her, that makes us realize there really is Something About Mary Bennet.
Amanda Hogue-Lavallee
Amanda Hogue-Lavallee lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, son, and two very special canine children. Amanda has been a Children’s Librarian for nearly 20 years at various libraries and is now part of the Youth Services team at the Manchester City Library, in Manchester, NH. When not planning story times, craft events, and recommending books to children, she enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks, and reading or watching a good period drama while sipping tea.
Ambassador Announcement
We are delighted to welcome Gillian Dooley as the newest Ambassador of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.
An Honorary Associate Professor at Flinders University in South Australia, Gillian is a researcher, librarian, and author whose work spans literature, music, and history — and she is widely celebrated across the global Austen community for her expertise on Jane Austen and music.
Her book She Played and Sang: Jane Austen and Music (Manchester University Press, 2024) is the fruit of a decade spent indexing the playable sheet music that survives from Austen's family collection, and her vocal performances of music from the Austen Family Music Books have taken her to Steventon, Chawton, Winchester, and beyond. For those who love Jane Austen's world in all its dimensions, Gillian's work opens a door that few others can.
Fresh from two concerts titled Unexpected Austen, she is preparing to reprise JA Set to Music — a programme of 21st century settings of Jane Austen's own poems and writings — and heads to the UK in June, for more performances. You can follow her work at Jane Austen's Music.
Gillian joins a passionate team of more than a dozen people who generously give their public profile and energy to support the Foundation's mission. We are delighted to welcome Gillian to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.
Our Community - What's Coming Up in May
In May we celebrate Jane Austen Fan Fiction Authors as we watch and discuss The Other Bennet Sister.
Remember, your membership for only $10USD a month helps to support literacy programs around the world!
The Other Bennet Sister has the Austen world buzzing — and we couldn't think of a better topic to talk about at this month’s Tea and Conversation.
Join us for a virtual event to share your thoughts, your feelings about Mary's long-overdue moment in the spotlight, and everything in between — we'd love to see you there.
✨ When: Saturday 30 May
🕒 Time: 4.00 PM EST / 9.00 PM GMT
💻 Where: Zoom (link via email)
The Writing Competition is CLOSED!
Our annual writing competition is now closed — and what a response!
We are thrilled to share that entries are up more than 60% on last year, with writers joining us from across the globe to share a story worth telling.
Our wonderful team of judges are reading as we speak, and we look forward to announcing our three winners at the beginning of June, when their stories will be published on our website for the public to read and vote for the overall winner. Watch this space.