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“The Trouble with Friends” is Kelly Miller’s most recent Pride and Prejudice variation.
📘 Love Pride & Prejudice variations?
Don’t miss my latest review of Mr. Darcy’s Complex Courtship by Kelly Miller — a romantic and twist-filled retelling you’ll want to check out! Read it here.
📝 Book Summary: The Trouble with Friends by Kelly Miller
In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Fitzwilliam Darcy finds his long-held principles challenged when his friend Simon Lockhart falls for Elizabeth Bennet. Lockhart is instantly captivated by Elizabeth’s wit and charm—despite her lack of fortune and social standing. But as Darcy tries to protect his friend from a perceived imprudent match, he finds himself falling for Elizabeth too.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth prefers Lockhart’s warmth over Darcy’s proud demeanor. But fate, misunderstandings, and unexpected twists force everyone to reevaluate what they truly want—and what they’re willing to sacrifice.
📚 Read The Trouble with Friends by Kelly Miller on Amazon Kindle (free with Kindle Unlimited!)
💬 Why Fans of Jane Austen Should Read The Trouble with Friends
If you enjoy books like Longbourn, Unequal Affections, or Mr. Darcy’s Diary, you’ll love this inventive retelling.
Kelly Miller blends familiar Regency charm with refreshing character arcs. The addition of Simon Lockhart creates an unexpected love triangle that gives the story new energy. The changes to the original plot—like no Mr. Collins at Longbourn and Jane Bennet’s absence from London—make room for new emotional tension and earlier relationship development between Elizabeth and Darcy.
✅ Kelly Miller’s The Trouble with Friends – A Must-Read for Austen Fans? Pros and Cons
✅ What Works:
Darcy’s inner conflict is well-developed and compelling
Elizabeth’s changing perceptions of Darcy feel natural and rewarding
Unique character additions and omissions that keep the plot feeling new
Regency setting is faithfully and vividly recreated
⚠️ Where It Falters:
Mr. Lockhart, while likable, is sometimes inconsistently portrayed
The Wickham and Lydia subplot may stretch believability even for seasoned Austen fans
Secondary characters like Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley occasionally lack emotional depth
⭐ Final Verdict: The Trouble With Friends is a Fun and Faithful Austen Variation with a Twist
The Trouble with Friends is a charming, clean Regency romance that will satisfy lovers of Pride and Prejudice variations, especially those who appreciate a bit of rivalry, romantic tension, and moral dilemmas. Despite minor character inconsistencies, it’s an entertaining and engaging read from start to finish.
Who is Author Kelly Miller?
Kelly Miller (Amazon Homepage) in an award winning author of Austenesque Regency romances. She resides in Silicon Valley with her husband and their many pets.
Her other books include: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mr. Darcy: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride & Prejudice Variation and The Darcy Secret: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: A Darcy and Elizabeth Regency Mystery Romance.
As of publication of this review, Kelly Miller’s books can be read with Amazon kindleunlimited.
To learn more about Kelly check out her blog and Goodreads author page.
More Posts to Read
- Aquila Theatre: Pride and Prejudice (2022) is Hilarious!
- Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE A New Musical (2020)
- 10 Great Sense and Sensibility Quotes by Jane Austen
- Austenland (2013): How do the Movie and Book Compare?
- 7 PERSUASION Quotes: Memorable, Romantic, and Beautiful
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Thanks for such a great review of The Trouble with Friends! I love how you captured the fun twists Kelly Miller added to the classic story! this definitely sounds like a must-read for me since I love Pride and Prejudice or Regency romance.
Thank you for giving “The Trouble With Friends” a read and sharing your thoughts.
This sounds like a fun adaptation. I haven’t read Pride & Prejudice in so many years. It would be great to check out this version.
Now I will have to deep dive into Kelly Miller. I had no idea someone was doing adaptations
This is such a cool concept! The original Jane Austen novel is one of my favourite classics, so an adaptation would be equally awesome to read.
This article on “The Trouble with Friends” provides an engaging take on a Pride and Prejudice variation by Kelly Miller. The new character, Mr. Simon Lockhart, adds intriguing twists to the familiar dynamics of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Thanks for sharing this fresh perspective on a classic tale!
This sounds like an interesting story. I’ll add it to my reading list.
“The Trouble with Friends” sounds like a fresh and engaging take on “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s interesting to see how the new character, Mr. Simon Lockhart changes the relationships we know so well.