Today is my birthday. I know, feel free to throw confetti and balloons at your screen in happiness. Or curl up with a good book and a mug of your beverage of choice. My mug is full of homemade hot cocoa. Just one of the many things I love to do every year: have some cocoa, eat cheesecake, and read Pride And Prejudice.

I am sure that I do not have to tell you that Jane Austen is one of the greatest authors of all time. Full stop. And the story of the Bennett family, particularly Elizabeth, and the ever so dashing Fitzwilliam Darcy is my favorite book.

Rewatching the Keira Knightley version (semi-controversial opinion) with the hand twitch (if you know you know) is possibly my favorite moment in film. I legitimately cannot think of another moment in film that I love as much. I get the same emotional reaction every time I see that scene. And this scene.

The first time I read this masterpiece I didn’t really care too much about the other Bennett sisters. But on rereads, you empathize with Lydia, Mary, and Kitty. They became more like people and less like extras. You even empathize with Mrs. Bennett, Caroline Bingley, and Louisa Hurst.

Although fiction, there is so much from the period in the novel that it helps you better understand history. I’m pretty such this book plunged me down the rabbit hole of English history and fashions of the period.

I could honestly gush about this book for hours, but I do have cheesecake to finish. If you haven’t read this yet, consider this the push you need to give it a try.