Book Review: What Kitty Did Next by Carrie Kablean

Well, everyone, I did tell you I was on a bit of a historical fiction kick and this post is no different. Fans of Jane Austen will especially enjoy this one!

What Kitty Did Next by Carrie Kablean is set in 1813 and is based around Catherine Bennet following the marriages of her three older sisters. Left at home and not expected to amount to anything, Kitty is lonely and begins pondering how she can improve her life. Kitty is overjoyed to soon find herself in London and then at the Darcy’s magnificent country estate in Derbyshire but one fateful night brings everything crashing down around her.

So, my review of What Kitty Did Next was originally going to have one opinion: I was looking for a book that was Austen-esque but better as I am not a huge Jane Austen fan. Based on that, I was slightly disappointed. Then, after reading the book, I found out that this was actually a sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Now, I have a whole new level of respect for the author. I can’t imagine writing a sequel is easy, especially when it is a sequel to one of the best-loved books by one of the most acclaimed authors in the world. Now, I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice myself so I can’t give a valid opinion but I can imagine What Kitty Did Next being a great delight for Austen fans. For those who also haven’t already read Pride and Prejudice, let me tell you how the book sat for me.

I liked Kitty. I felt that she was a woman who was trying to find herself within many constraints. Time may have changed some things but, unfortunately, this is a situation that women are still familiar with.

While I am on the topic of different eras, I would stay that the style of writing has changed a lot between Austen’s and Kablean’s eras. Therefore, I have to applaud the author for writing so well a book that was set in an era she didn’t live through. In my opinion, the language was spot on and helped to successfully portray a time which was in many ways so different to our own.

The one downfall of What Kitty Did Next, for me, was that nothing very exciting happened. Upon reading the blurb, I was waiting and waiting for something dramatic to happen. In my opinion, it didn’t but perhaps I am not able to think so well in terms of the era of this book. It is likely that the events of the story would have been quite shocking in the 1800s.

Overall, I pretty much enjoyed this book. It took me a while (and some extra information!) to fully understand my feelings toward What Kitty Did Next but ultimately, it is a story I would recommend – especially if you are a big Austen fan.

I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review.