Fans of Pride and Prejudice will likely remember Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend who declared that at 27 she had no money and no prospects. In this new novel by Rachel Parris, Charlotte Lucas steps out of Elizabeth Bennet’s shadow. Practical well past her mother’s understanding, Charlotte Lucas accepts the awkward marriage proposal from clergyman Mr. Collins, after Elizabeth rejects him. Charlotte does not love Collins but enters the marriage with the belief that security is more important than passion. In her new life at Hunsford Parsonage, Charlotte falls into a steady routine of managing a household and regular visits to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The life is tedious and plan, but she is determined to give it all her best and be as good of a wife as possible. When a guest arrives at nearby Rosings Park, Charlotte finds someone that challenges her and lights a spark in her. She must decide between following her heart and the safe life she’s sacrificed for.
If you were ever full of “what ifs” about Charlotte Lucas or other minor characters in Pride and Prejudice, this book is for you. Charlotte Lucas starts this book as painfully dull and focused, almost to the point of me needing to put the book down. Her interactions with Elizabeth Bennet pull from the original text but are kept short and brief; after all, this s Charlotte’s story, not Elizabeth’s. Introducing Mrs. Collins keeps a familiar cast of characters, meaning most readers will know exactly who is interacting whether they’ve read the classic by Jane Austen or watched any adaptation of the book on film (I’m not getting into a fight over which one was the best, I know my limits).
Introducing Mrs. Collins is available from Little Brown and Company on November 4, 2025.
