Lola Barnes's summer is not off to the best start.
Fresh off a scandal that tanked her social status, Lola has somehow managed to alienate her twin sister, lose the friends she thought she had, and put a ... fiery end to the first part of the summer.
(The boat was barely on fire, for the record—and all the partygoers were just fine.)
Lola is given an ultimatum: jail time, or spend the summer with the nonprofit Hike Like a Girl.
Everyone seems to expect Lola to fail. But even as Lola encounters bugs, blisters, and bears (oh my!), she finds something greater that she'd been missing all along: unexpected friends, a sweet romance, strength she didn't know she had—and herself, Lola, at last.
Marnie Barnes is convinced she is the long-suffering protagonist of her life, just like the characters in all her favorite books.
But a main character isn’t the forgotten middle child of their family, nor does their love interest see them as only a friend. A series of Marnie-induced disasters forces her to confront the devastating truth: Marnie has more in common with Mary Bennet—the utterly forgettable middle sister of Pride and Prejudice—then effervescent Elizabeth Bennet.
Determined to reinvent herself, Marnie enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens herself up to the world—leading lady style. Between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie realizes that being the main character doesn’t mean rewriting your life entirely, just finding the right cast of characters, the love interest of your dreams, and most important, embracing your story. Flaws and all.
Praise for BEING MARY BENNET
Literary references, friendship, family drama, adorable dogs—this book has it all! ... Fans of Jane Austen will eat up this playful contemporary homage to Pride and Prejudice. —School Library Journal
A witty, creative retelling packed with charming characters and hilarious antics. Being Mary Bennet filled my Austen-loving heart with so much joy! —Rachel Lynn Solomon
Debut author Peterson shows the difficulties of overcoming habitual behavior through relationships rather than a to-do list. —Publishers Weekly
Marnie’s first-person narrative begins with reflection and ends with her taking action on several fronts. While her self-deprecating humor is part of the story’s appeal, there’s also something endearing about watching this earnest character do what has to be done. —Booklist
Marnie is compellingly real ... and the story cleverly balances her most disagreeable moments with insights into the familial slights and self-doubt that created them. An utterly authentic, captivating story, this novel will reward readers with a well-earned happy ending full of family, friends, and romance. —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books