Done for the Best

A Pride and Prejudice Variation (The Engaged to Mr Darcy Series)

De: Amy D'Orazio

Narrado por: Simon Alison

Perhaps this concealment, this disguise, was beneath me… It is done, however, and it was done for the best. Elizabeth Bennet, walking in Kent the day after Mr Darcy’s proposal meets with an unfortunate mishap. A meeting with an adder has disastrous consequences for her and when she wakes from a period of unconsciousness, she has no memory at all of the last ten months of her life. To her complete shock she learns that she is engaged to a man called Darcy, a man she has no recollection of meeting before.

Darcy is shocked himself to realize that Elizabeth thinks she is engaged to him but his efforts to correct her misapprehension are thwarted by those around her who believe that to learn the truth will be detrimental to her recovery. As the days go by, Darcy and Elizabeth spend time together, reading and driving out around Kent, behaving as the lovers Darcy always dreamt they would be. To continue in the disguise, to forget the contentions and misunderstandings of their past proves an unbearable temptation.

When the worst happens and Elizabeth learns that not only did she refuse Darcy’s proposal, she hated him. What she learns seems completely incongruous with the man she has fallen in love with…and yet she simply does not know if she can forgive him for deceiving her.

©2025 AMY D'ORAZIO (P)2025 Quills & Quartos Publishing

Quite good

I always appreciate books by D'Orazio as I anticipate Viscount Saye. He's the best non-canon character I've ever had the pleasure to read. This was a very interesting premise: P&P meets While You Were Sleeping (mostly). I really enjoyed it. The narrator was good, but I feel many voices were not quite distinct enough.

One of the Best P&P Variations

Great variation. Great narrator. Great new character. The addition of Darcy’s cousin ,Say, (not sure if that is how you spell it) was a nice surprise. He should get his own story!

Enjoyable

I have no idea if the symptoms of an adder bite are as horrible as portrayed in this book and wonder at the lack of communication being necessary for Elizabeth's state of mind but it it made for a nice story. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a good job. It was fun to listen and I stayed up way too late to finish. Darcy was really quite romantic but the two of them had a hard time pulling it all together until the end. Thus my having to stay up so late to finish the book.

Delicious tension, flawless pacing

Amy D’Orazio’s DONE FOR THE BEST stands out in the crowded field of Austen variations with its clever, inventive plot and rich emotional depth. The story begins with Elizabeth Bennet awakening from a mysterious accident, only to find herself engaged to Mr. Darcy — a man she doesn’t remember ever meeting. What follows is a masterful exploration of memory, identity, and the fine line between deception and protection. The novel’s tension is delicious, its pacing flawless, and its characters deeply compelling. Elizabeth and Darcy’s journey from misunderstanding to love is one to be remembered, not just as another retelling but as a fresh and thoughtful reimagining of a beloved classic.

Narrator Simon Alison delivers a captivating performance with a beautiful voice and perfectly measured pacing that draws you effortlessly into the story. His tone balances warmth and subtle tension, enhancing the deliciously intricate emotional undercurrents of the narrative. This audiobook is a true treat for fans of Austen-inspired fiction and will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Memory Loss & Identity Change

What around have been bad soap opera plot was surprisingly good. Not only the frustrations of even small period of life being suddenly gone are addressed.
How do women evolve into a married woman without loosing their "self" is a challenge faced throughout time. This Story addresses it gently and with values appropriate to the era, no huffing and puffing about it. As in most times, both parties to a marriage change to adapt, and do so with love. Not always as easy as this book, but nice to see the reality of it touched upon in a romance.