Only Exceedingly Shy by Jann Rowland Narrator: Harry Frost
Published by Tantor Audio on March 26, 2024
Genres: Historical Romance
Length: 6 hours, 34 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Disheartened and convinced by Elizabeth's assertion of Miss Bingley's character, Jane Bennet insists Elizabeth return to London with the Gardiners after Christmas to provide her with a reprieve from their mother, who has not accepted Elizabeth's rejection of Mr. Collins's suit.
What Elizabeth could never have imagined was her chance meeting with Mr. Darcy in London, and even more shocking is his request to introduce her to his sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. When Elizabeth agrees, she makes the young heiress's acquaintance, immediately understanding Miss Darcy's crippling shyness and her low spirits.
Amid her interactions with Miss Darcy, Elizabeth learns another astonishing fact, that Mr. Darcy looks at her with the eyes of a suitor. Though Elizabeth's world is turned upside down, she learns there is more to Mr. Darcy than she ever thought. She also learns to be wary of the claims of a man who took advantage of her initial dislike for the gentleman.
With her usual fortitude, Elizabeth navigates these shoals, determined to provide friendship to a young girl, learn more about the increasingly intriguing Mr. Darcy, and discover the truth about Mr. Bingley's abandonment of her sister.
A twist in the classic story leads to a Pride & Prejudice variation story set against the backdrop of Regency London and puts a vulnerable, shy young lady at the heart of matters. I’ve enjoyed a handful of Jann Rowland’s heartwarming, low-angst Austenesque romances and I was particularly eager when I saw that a favorite narrator, Harry Frost was telling this one.
Only Exceedingly Shy begins when beleaguered Elizabeth Bennet wants any escape from her harping mother after she refused the marriage offer from their silly, simpering cousin, Mr. Collins. Her older sister was meant to leave after Christmas to stay with their aunt and uncle in London, and Lizzy wanted Jane to go for the chance of encountering the recently departed Mr. Bingley. But, Jane has had time to reflect and has decided that if Mr. Bingley really cared, he wouldn’t have left- family and friends’ interference or not. So, she insists Elizabeth go in her stead.
And, lo and behold, Elizabeth encounters the austere Mr. Darcy whom she is convinced can only look on her with snobbish disgust. Only, Mr. Darcy surprises her. Her aunt, and even Jane, warned Lizzy earlier that she might not have all the facts and might not be seeing Mr. Darcy’s character as clearly as she thought. Now, the man himself isn’t acting as the proud, distant, and disdainful creator she painted him to be in her mind. He is a caring and tender brother, he’s polite and respectful to her relations in trade and solicitous of her. But what of his role in ruining Wickham and separating Jane and Bingley? Was she perhaps wrong about those heavy accusations, too?
Only Exceedingly Shy is a slow-burn, sweet historical romance that gradually goes from a woman nearly hating a man to learning his true nature, respect, friendship, and then love. Both Elizabeth and Darcy share the narration. I liked how Georgiana’s sad story and need of a friend was what brought her brother and her new friend to really see each other.
The story does drag a bit for me in the last part. I felt Elizabeth had ample evidence to see she had the guy pegged wrong, long before she was quite willing to believe it. And, she held out on love well past the due date, too. To give her credit, she wasn’t obnoxious about either, merely extremely hesitant and cautious.  The Caroline Bingley character who attempted to stir up trouble and had her ambitions set on marrying the wealthy and high-placed Darcy was over the top and got annoying. Would someone just use the equivalent of Regency duct tape, please?
I would have liked a more thorough wrap up particularly following the Georgiana side character to see her doing well after everything. There was no actual incompletion, but just me greedy for more.
Only Exceedingly Shy was sweet and swoony and left me feeling well-satisfied. I don’t think one absolutely needs to have read P&P prior to this one and could simply enjoy it as an engaging sweet historical romance, but it will likely appeal to Jane Austen fans most of all.
Narration:
I really enjoyed listening to Harry Frost’s talented voicing of all the characters, grasp of tone and pacing, and overall solid storytelling.
Listen to the clip: HERE
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As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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How fun that he wasn’t as bad as she first thought he was.
Oh yeah! She thought him the most detestable lout she’d ever seen and then had to eat those words without salt soon enough. Haha!
Yea for another retelling! I wonder if there is a count of how many books have been written based on P&P?! Glad you enjoyed it.
There has to be a few thousand out there. I’ve only read a couple from this author who has many lovely ones still for me to read. Let’s just say I’ll never run out.
Its good to know Elizabeth was not obnoxious
Yes, especially since she was pretty much wrong about so much. 🙂
Nice to have a favorite narrator perform this P&P variation! I think Caroline would annoy me, too. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Yes, exactly! Oh, this Caroline was a pill. 🙂
This sounds good but I was secretly hoping this would be a story in Jane’s POV
It was definitely good stuff, but sorry, not a Jane story. 🙂