#mary b

[universitybookstore]

Wonder what happened to Mary Bennett... after? Asked and answered in Katherine J. Chen’s debut novel from Random House, Mary B. A Novel.

[inabooknook]

Mary B: An Untold Story of Pride and Prejudice by Katherine J. Chen

At first I was skeptical, having been a huge fan of all books Jane Austen. I enjoyed Longbourn, I enjoyed Austenland, and seeing that this book was due to be published, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity and fast. The story revolves around Mary Bennet, the least talked about member of the Bennet family. The story takes liberties surrounding relationships between characters and post-P&P stories I'm sure some will be unhappy with, but after having followed the Elizabeth Bennet/Mr. Darcy story for so long, it was refreshing to see something different for once. This is not meant to be a rewriting of Pride and Prejudice - it's part of the story told from a different point of view and that is going to color descriptions of characters differently to how we perceived them in the original work. I greatly enjoyed reading this novel and would challenge any Jane Austen lover out there to reserve judgment because the writing is well done, the character development is quite interesting and the story arc is wonderful.

This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

[forgotten-bennet]

Currently reading

Mary B by Katherine J Chen

[ggblasts]

Katherine Pierce and Mary Bowder-Maddox, teaming up to prove that two wrongs make a spectacularly chaotic right.

They say birds of a feather flock together, but nobody expected a pair of beautiful predators to start sharing the same hunting ground. It’s one thing to navigate the social hierarchy solo, but it’s another thing entirely when two of the most unpredictable forces in Manhattan decide to join forces.

You hit the nail on the head, Anonymous. Comparing Katherine to Georgina Sparks is a warning shot if I’ve ever heard one. Katherine doesn't just attend the party—she orchestrates the after-party, the morning after, and the inevitable fallout. If Mary is letting her into her inner circle, she isn't just opening the door to a new friendship; she’s unlocking Pandora’s box and inviting the chaos inside.

Is Mary really ready for a true party girl revival, or is she underestimated just how dangerous it is to play follow-the-leader with someone who always keeps a sharp knife hidden behind her back? In a city built on fragile reputations, a duo like this is a match made in a very expensive, very beautiful version of hell.

Buckle up, darlings. When girls like Katherine and Mary start sharing a VIP booth, the hangover is going to hit the entire Upper East Side.

You know you love me.

XOXO, Gossip Girl

@marryy-bowderxoxo @xoxokatherinep

[ggblasts]

Spotted: The After Math.

The Met Gala has come and gone, darlings, and Manhattan is buzzing with the kind of energy that only exists in its wake. The champagne has been drunk, the cameras have moved on, and yet here we all are — dressed to the nines, or in some cases, dressed to the fives — gathered together in the glorious aftermath.

You showed up. I was watching. Let's talk about it.

FREYA ARCHERON — A white lace-up peasant blouse tucked into wide-leg patterned trousers, a camel coat draped over the shoulders like an afterthought she made look intentional. Freya, you traveled all the way from Prythian for this and I can tell. There's something undeniably romantic about this look — the kind of outfit that whispers "I read poetry in gardens" rather than "I own this city." The coat as a shoulder accessory is the most interesting choice here, and those printed trousers keep it from dissolving entirely into cottagecore. It's pretty. It's soft. It just needed a little more edge to remind us that you've survived things most of us couldn't imagine. Rating: 6.5/10 @xxfeyredarlingxx

MARY BOWDER — An embellished blush crop top, sleek black trousers and oversized sunglasses. Mary, you look like you took a wrong turn on the way to the French Riviera and decided Manhattan would do just fine. The sunglasses are doing tremendous work in the "I am completely unbothered" department, and the embellishment on that top is delicate enough to feel intentional rather than overdone. But the overall look is missing something — a spark, a risk, a reason to keep staring. She's composed to the point of being forgettable, and that, darling, might be the worst thing I can say. Rating: 6/10 @marryy-bowderxoxo

HANNAH WELLS — Head to toe Chanel. Logo pants, quilted mesh bodice, chain bag, mary jane heels. Hannah. HANNAH. She walked in here and chose violence, and I respect it enormously. While everyone else was busy curating a moment, this girl put on a full Chanel look and dared anyone to have an opinion about it. The logo pants could easily tip into costume territory but the structured top keeps it sharp and intentional, and the mary janes add just the right amount of irreverence. This is the outfit of someone who has nothing to prove and knows precisely how good she looks. Off Campus, consider yourselves represented. Rating: 8.5/10 @xxbabywellsxx

MARILYN SINCLAIR — A cropped cream teddy fur jacket, black wide-leg flares, a statement gold belt, and gold hoop earrings. Jackie arrived looking like the most glamorous person at a party she threw for herself — and I mean that as the highest of compliments. The contrast between the plush, tactile jacket and the sleek tailored trousers is genuinely clever, and that belt cinches the whole thing into a look rather than an outfit. She's holding a coffee cup in the photo, which tells me she is performing for absolutely no one, and somehow that makes this entire look land harder. Effortless in the truest sense. Rating: 8/10 @themarilynsinclair

KIARA CARRERA — Head to toe mustard olive — crop top, wide-leg trousers, and a floor-length duster coat, finished with pale yellow pointed heels and oversized resin hoop earrings. Kiara came from the Outer Banks and dressed like she's been claiming seats at tables she was never offered. This is a bold, committed, monochromatic moment and she is pulling it off through sheer confidence alone. The tonal layering is more sophisticated than it has any right to be, the earrings are the perfect punctuation, and those heels are doing exactly what they're supposed to. The OBX girl has arrived, and she wants you to know it. Rating: 7.5/10 @thekiaracarrera

BRIAR COLEMAN — A black structured butterfly crop top with dramatic sculptural petal detailing, a sleek black mini skirt, and strappy black heels. Simple. Devastating. Briar looked at this entire event and decided a single statement piece would do the talking, and she was absolutely right. The sculptural top is the whole outfit and she had the intelligence to let it be. Hair pulled back tight, heels strapped on — she is not here for conversation. This is one of the strongest looks of the night and she made it look like it required no effort at all, which is perhaps the most impressive thing of all. Rating: 9/10 @thebriarcoleman

CLEO ANDERSON — A cream lace-up corset top paired with a flowing beige midi skirt and rich cognac heels, photographed on a sun-drenched balcony like she planned the lighting herself. Cleo, you arrived looking like golden hour in human form and I am not complaining. The lace-up detailing on that corset gives just enough edge to keep the look grounded, and those cognac heels are the single smartest shoe choice in this entire lineup. Warm, polished, quietly confident. The Outer Banks has better taste than its postcode suggests, and Cleo Anderson is the proof. Rating: 8/10 @cleoanderson

ELLA HAMPTON — A white sheer corset gown with a dramatic thigh-high slit, soft curly blonde hair, and clear heels, descending a staircase in a dimly lit venue like she was born doing exactly this. Ella. The sheer layers are romantic without being precious, the corset boning gives it the structure it needs, and the clear heels were the only correct choice — anything else would have fought for attention it couldn't win. This is how you walk into a room and make everyone else wonder if they tried hard enough. The answer, for most of them, is no. Rating: 9/10 @ellaxhampton

ROXANNE LONG — A black graphic crop tee, a cobalt blue micro mini skirt, a floor-length black overcoat, strappy heeled sandals, and a matching cobalt geometric structured bag. Roxanne arrived in a shade of blue so saturated it practically has its own area code, and she committed to it so completely that I have nothing but respect. The coat-to-mini ratio is perfection — all that drama on top, all that confidence below. The matching bag is the kind of dedication to a concept that lesser people attempt and abandon. This look has attitude. It has intention. It has that bag. Rating: 9/10 @roxannelong

CHUCK BASS — A grey t-shirt. White trousers. Dark loafers. Lounging on an orange velvet sofa like the world has always arranged itself around his comfort, and perhaps it has. Chuck. Charles. I understand the philosophy of underdressing as power. I have watched you execute it with devastating precision. But there is a fine line between a power move and simply not trying, and today, darling, you are standing on the wrong side of it. The white trousers are acceptable. The loafers are fine. The grey t-shirt is an act of aggression against everyone who put in effort. You are better than this. We both know it. Rating: 4/10 @chuckbbass

ALLIE HAYES — A burgundy velvet off-shoulder cowl top, a matching ruffle micro mini in the same burnished floral velvet, and dark knee-high boots with embellished hardware. Allie walked in wearing a colour palette so rich it borders on edible, and she had the audacity to make it look easy. The velvet-on-velvet coordination is the kind of risk that requires either great instincts or great confidence — Allie, it appears, has both. The cowl neckline is doing something quietly elegant, and those embellished boots are the kind of detail that separates the ones who get it from the ones who don't. Rating: 8/10 @thealliehayes

ROBIN BUCKLEY — A blush pink satin strapless gown with a sheer caramel-toned cape overlay, tied at the throat with a delicate ribbon, hair swept into a loose romantic updo. Robin arrived from 1986 and walked in looking like she had personally attended every Met Gala since its inception. I don't know what they're putting in the Hawkins water supply but I would like some. The blush and the nude cape together are impossibly soft and the structure of that gown is doing everything right. The hair, the ribbon, the expression of someone who has faced far worse than a Manhattan party — it all works. This is a revelation. Rating: 9.5/10 @rockinxrobin

REN HUNTER — A rich chocolate brown pinstripe wide-leg suit, a floral embroidered jacket worn over the shoulders, and a printed shirt with a loosely knotted necktie, photographed at a rain-soaked bus stop at night like the opening frame of a film you immediately want to watch. Ren. This is either the most deliberate look in this entire post or a beautiful accident, and I find I don't need to know which. The embroidery against the pinstripe is deeply specific and deeply committed, and the bus stop backdrop is doing more for this outfit than any venue could. Moody, textured, and entirely its own thing. Rating: 8.5/10 @renxhunter

The Math has been done, darlings. Some of you added up beautifully. Some of you were a subtraction. Either way, I'll be here — I'm always here.

XOXO, Gossip Girl 🖤

[graceamazerocky]

As a side note: I am FINALLY vindicated of my love of Mary Bennet!!! No I haven't seen The Other Bennet Sister (I have read the book it's based on) but I've read many novel variations (and fanfic) centering around her that mirror my POV of her charactererization of her.

I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND Mary B by Katherine J. Chen. Be warned though it is thoroughly hated my Austenites because of a certain master of Pemberly is attracted to our dear girl FIRST before that know it all Elizabeth (who really doesn't). Also it will make you hate Georgiana Darcy as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam.

[ggblasts]

SPOTTED: Mary Bowder Maddox, our favorite St. Jude’s saint, looking surprisingly chic while navigating the damp city streets. It seems the new Mrs. Maddox is trading in the chalkboard for a little street-style swagger, but we can’t help but notice that solo stride. For a woman who recently tied the knot with a man like Ryker Maddox, she’s looking awfully focused on her own destination. Is the honeymoon phase already over, or is she just rushing to beat the bell?

While Marry is busy molding the minds of the next generation at St. Jude’s, her husband is busy guarding at Madison Square Garden. It’s a classic New York romance: the teacher and the security guard. But in a city where status is everything, one has to wonder if Ryker’s shifts at the Garden are leaving Mary a little too much free time to wander the Village. Security is his job, but who’s keeping an eye on his bride while he’s monitoring the mosh pits?

She’s got that "newlywed" glow, or maybe that’s just the reflection from the wet pavement on her way to an afternoon iced tea. With a bag slung over her arm and a look of sheer determination, Mary doesn't exactly look like a woman waiting for her husband to get off the clock. Is she heading to meet a secret study buddy, or is she just enjoying a moment of peace away from the screaming toddlers and the MSG crowds?

Keep your whistles ready, Upper East Siders. A teacher with a secret is a dangerous thing, and a security guard who loses sight of his perimeter is even worse. Let’s see if Ryker can keep his home front secure, or if Mary is about to teach us all a lesson in extracurricular activities. Class is in session, and the topic today is "Trouble in Paradise."

You know you love me.

XOXO, Gossip Girl

@marryy-bowderxoxo @rykermaddoxxo

[ggblasts]

How would Ryker feel knowing his wife is having coffee dates with her ex, a well known actor and the most famous divorced lawyer in town who had a thing for her in the past?

When in the hell did Tucker ever admit to having feelings for Mary? Mary, is this you pulling information of your ass just to try to stay relevant? If so, go and analyze a classic literature book before trying to start rumors about yourself and your "affairs"

XOXO, Gossip Girl

@marryy-bowderxoxo @rykermaddoxxo @mftonysalazar @tuckerzbanks