The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su

Based on the Emmy Award winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty four year old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

Review: If you loved the Lizzie Bennet Diaries then this book is a must have for your collection. The show was one of my favorite adaptations of my favorite classic, the book goes one step beyond. This “Secret Diary” tells all, leaving in the bits that fans didn’t get to see in the vlog. There’s more story, Lizzie’s real feelings as things happen, and the reveal of what exactly was in Darcy’s letter.

Lizzie is very real and this version really highlights the fact that she is just as flawed as everyone else. Often, Lizzie is idealized, but it is gratifying to see her treated like an actual human. Lydia is a much more sympathetic character in this version of the old story. Where, in some versions Lydia is almost unbearable, here you begin to feel for her and enjoy watching her.

LBD treated the Pride and Prejudice with love and respect and this book does the same. I’d recommend the book as well as the show to anyone who enjoys the Pride and Prejudice story or any of the adaptations or retellings.

What did you think of the book? Tell me in the comments!

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