Learning to Love
Author: Brigid Huey
Reviewer: Sophia Rose
Rating: A+
What I’m Talking About:
As a longtime fan of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, I was over the moon to spot this blending of both classics in a parallel side story to Little Women and sequel to Pride & Prejudice. Brigid Huey did justice to both stories.
Learning to Love puts Laurie and Amy in the forefront as the young lovers. Amy has held a torch for Laurie ever since she could remember while he was pursuing her older sister Jo. As she slipped into womanhood, she has stopped dreaming and has a plan to wed a nice gentleman who will treat her with regard and she esteems.
Laurie is lounging about Europe trying to get over Jo’s rejection and during a memorable Christmas ball in Nice discovers Amy is no longer a little girl and her calm determination to wed his friend has him consternated for some reason.
But, Laurie’s grandfather introduces him to an aged, but forever young married pair who make him envy what they have and suddenly understand his feelings about Amy March. The Darcys gladly share their surprising courtship and good advice just when Laurie needs it most. Is it too late for him with Amy?
This long novella was heartwarming and tender. I enjoyed revisiting Jane Austen’s most famous pair in their old age and seeing them still happy and in love and ready to help a new generation with their own romantic mistakes. But, more than that, I was tickled to get Laurie and Amy’s story first hand. In Little Women, their romance happens off page and one learns of it when it is a fait accompli, but this was a sweet and tender friends to lovers that takes place in lovely European tourist settings of the Victorian period while they worry together over Beth’s declining health back home and Laurie getting over his childhood love for Jo. Oh the feels this brought out as I swooned the way Laurie and Amy looked to bolster each other up and sought to help each other through their pain. Their romance was a matter of timing with Amy knowing first and waiting, but then giving up and Laurie having to see what was right in front of him and then figuring out he had to take a chance on love.
As a fan of both stories, I felt this new blend did them both justice. Someone familiar with both stories would get the most out of Learning to Love, but newcomers can appreciate the sweet historical romance, too.
My Rating: A+ Personal Favorite
Sophia Rose
About the Book:
In this exploration of Little Women and Pride and Prejudice, can Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy help unite two young lovers?
Amy March has been in love with her neighbor Laurie for years, but he only had eyes for her older sister. Now living in Europe, Amy is choosing her path to happiness despite her heartache. But her equilibrium is challenged when a single and melancholy Laurie pays her a visit.
Soundly rejected by his childhood love and best friend, Laurie is now wandering around Europe, taking little interest in anything or anyone. Things change in France, where he reunites with his old friend Amy. Disappointed in his behavior, she convinces him to take charge of his life and engineer his own happiness.
Laurie returns to London to make a fresh start, but he cannot get Amy out of his mind. Confused and lovestruck, he appeals to his grandfather’s close friends, the Darcys, for advice. Will this wise, elderly couple be able to guide him through his heartache?
Release Date: July 6, 2024
Publisher: Meryton Press
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)