Member Reviews
Rose is an avid fan of Jane Austen and gets to relish in her love for the author living in modern-day Bath. As the annual Jane Austen festival approaches, Rose realizes that the woman living above her is not a fan of the Regency era but is actually Jane Austen. After a mishap, Jane become trapped in Rose’s time, but she hasn’t written any of her novels yet in her own time, which means no one have ever heard of Jane Austen! Rose finds herself in a different job, different home, with different friends, all because Austen’s work never brought her together with the people from her former life. Rose must figure out a way to get Jane Austen back where she belongs and get back to the life she misses so much. This is a fun read for Jane Austen fans.
Friendship, Jane Austen, and… time travel? Oh my!
Have you ever wanted to befriend your favorite author? Live in the English country? This story takes place in the English town of Bath during the Jane Austen festival (which just so happens to be a real thing so count me in). Rose Wallace, a local and inn worker, is a, dare I say, huge fangirl of Jane Austen and helps make sure things run smoothly for the guests of the festival every year. However, there just so happens to be an unexpected guest who shows up that may change the course of history.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book but I found myself hooked from the very first chapter. In the beginning, we follow the sort of average every day life of Rose during the Jane Austen festival. She’s busy making sure people have places to stay, especially a professor she admires (read as definitely has a crush on). On top of this, she has a long distance internet friend coming in for her and of course the festival. The last thing she ever expected on her plate was for Jane Austen herself to show up, much less show up and all of her works being suddenly nonexistent to the current world. Her name is unknown, nothing comes up on Google, and the museum that Rose lives under is non existent all thanks to a mysterious necklace. While I wish the romance was a bit more elaborated on, I do enjoy that friendship is a lot more prominent of a theme.
Doctor Who Tardis GIF
(Not making assumptions that Jane Austen is the Doctor but if the shoe fits)
I don’t want to give too much away but this is a definite read if you like the adventure of time travel mixed with saving the legacy of your favorite classic author.
Jane Austen time travelling? This could be fun. The premise is great. Set in Bath, where Jane Austen lived for a while. She owns a cross pendant that allows her to time travel two hundred years to the future. Then something happens and she can't get back to her own time. The trouble is she has not yet written any of her novels. So we see how different the world would have been without her books.
The main character of this book is Rose Wallace. She's a dedicated Janeite and loves everything related to her books. Now she dedicates herself to the task of getting Jane back to her own time where she can resume writing.
The character I liked most was Morgan, Rose's best friend. She is supposed to be a comical character with her bad sense of direction, getting easily distracted and making friends with everybody. But I found her more endearing and loyal than funny. The romance part of the book was not very interesting to me. The story's time span is only few days, so nothing much has time to happen romantically.
The thing I could not understand was how Rose was the only one who could remember the old timeline where the Austen's books still existed. Or rather why she could not remember what had happened to her earlier in the timeline where Austen's books did not exist? And the subplot where Rose was supposed to be an excellent baker was suddenly discarded.
This is a nice book. I learned a lot about Jane Austen.
Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Escape for a copy of this book.
I love any story involving Jane Austen, though time traveling is not one I was expecting. I honestly can not imagine a world without Pride and Prejudice, the ripple effect is clearly enormous when this happens to Rose, whose life is all about Jane Austen.
On a mission to bring Jane back to the past, it's the start of quite the adventure. I loved all the historical facts, and titbits throughout this story. While familiar with her novels, I learned quite a lot about Jane Austen's life in general.
To be completely fair, the romance wasn't really heavy here. Rose does have an interest in Dr. Aidan Trevellyan, an archaeologist, but since neither of them have any flirting skills, they somehow mostly end up talking about history.
Rose's best friend was there for comic relief. Morgan is quite a hoot, and here antics keep you entertained.
Personally for me, I would like to have seen more obvious romance, though I do believe the ladies writing this story went a bit more old school in that regard. The story is charming, with lovely characters, and I'm enough off a history buff to be interested in sequel novel.
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
As I love Jane Austen, I couldn't resist this one. It's funny, well written and has well developed characters. The book is a page-turner for all the right reasons and I got a good laugh at times. I'm sure Jane Austen herself would approve of this book.
I approached this story cautiously, I’ve read books that involve the classics before and not enjoyed them, but I do love a time travel story so I decided to give it a go and I am glad I did!
I loved this book, this story is fun, exciting, and a little strange but the characters are fantastic the storyline interesting and it’s beautifully written.
A witty, engrossing and entertaining novel, it kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the mix of fantasy and women's fiction, the fleshed out characters and the descriptions.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I knew this was going to be a variation of the Jane Austen theme but this took me way out of any comfort zone I had! In a very good way.
The idea that what would have happened if the Jane Austen books we know were not written or not published is unimaginable.
September and in Bath it is all about Austen. Finding someone in period costume is nothing unusual at the time and Rose begins to think that the lady she glimpses everywhere is another of those who has immersed herself fully into the Austen saga. When Morgan arrives from America and Rose's entire present world is turned upside down with the appearance of a necklace which has brought Jane Austen to present day times and then takes Rose back in time, things get complicated.
Rose desperately wants to get back to modern times and Jane Austen needs to go back to write and publish her books but how are they going to do this, when the only way back is a necklace secreted in a safe in a place hidden by double walls and in a building which is now an office!
Taking innumerable twists and turns, you do know this story is going to end well. Otherwise there would be no Jane Austen novels today!
A fun read, for lovers of Jane Austen a must.
***** 5 stars
Note: I received this book via Netgalley. This is my honest review.
Oh sweet Lord! This book was written for me. I am the target audience, my husband can attest to that . I am a bit of Jane Austen fan , P&P being my favorite. This book is my Hygge. It is a cup of tea, while wearing your comfy pj’s. It is like watching cat videos. All the cat videos. All of them. OMG, it is so much of what makes me deliriously happy while reading.
Okay , get ready for it,it is chic lit in the best way. Chic lit , with a time travelling Jane Austen. Yes, you read that right. Timey Wimey Miss Austen. Am I kidding you, no, I am not. I am in book heaven.
The book begins with the introduction of Rose. She lives in Bath and is helping prepare for the yearly celebration that brings people from around the world to celebrate all things Austen.
Rose works for James setting up tourists in Holiday rentals. She loves her job , and gets along well with her boss. It is the busy season with the Janeite’s descending and the arrival of Rose’s best friend, Morgan. Morgan and Rose met years before in an online forum discussing Harry Potter and then Jane Austen. Despite being friends for years , this is their first time meeting , Morgan is from America.
Aiden , an archaeologist and speaker at the Austen gatherings is a longtime crush of Rose’s and friend of James. He has arrived and Rose must work with him. She bumbles and stutters, afraid he doesn’t know she exists.
As the town gets swept up into Austen mania, Rose notices a curious woman . She can’t shake the feeling that something is amiss. She realizes the woman is occupying the rental above her flat, and after many run ins discovers it is Miss Austen herself. A magic necklace given to Jane by her brother allows her to move back and forth in time. Unfortunately an incident causes Rose and Jane to become stuck in a different time, and it alters writing history causing a world without the words of Jane Austen. I cannot imagine a world without Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It pains me to consider such a thing.
This alternate time line presents Rose with an different life. Everything is different.The road not chosen has shown its path. What can we learn and change. Who do we hold dearly and what will we fight our way back to?
It is a little bit action adventure and mystery , with Jane and Rose trying to right the time travel mistake.
The story gives us friendship, romance,a literary hero and bad ass. I freaking loved every stinking second I was lost with them.
Read this book and enjoy.
Fans of Harry Potter and Jane Austen will enjoy this quick, fun romance. A quirky take on fantasy & historical fiction. Definitely worth a read!
***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This immediately reminded me of Austenland and Lost in Austen. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the story unfolds. Full of wit and romance, this is a fun read for any Austen fans out there.
My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen’ by Ada Bright & Cass Grafton in exchange for an honest review.
When a time-travelling Jane Austen becomes trapped in modern day Bath it triggers an alternative timeline where none of her novels were published! Imagine a world without Mr. Darcy or Bridget Jones - the horror!
I love both Jane Austen and time travel novels so this was a must read for me. The circumstances of how Miss Austen comes to travel in time are quite ingenious.
Its main character is Rose Wallace, who is devoted to all things Jane Austen and every year looks forward to participating in the Jane Austen Festival. She even lives in a basement flat at No 4 Sydney Place, a former home of Jane. She is looking forward to the visit from her online friend, Morgan, from California, who will be attending the Festival with her. Rose notices that there is a new tenant in one of the flats above her who seems to be dressed very authentically and is acting strangely...
Its authors have crafted a bright, charming romantic comedy that was a lovely read. They also explore friendship, especially those initiated by mutual interests in literature and popular culture.
Ada Bright is Californian and Cass Grafton is British so the Anglo-American dynamic between Rose and Morgan plays out well.
It was great fun and I was very pleased to see that its sequel will be published later in the year. I can hardly wait. Not great literature but good fun.
Rose Wallace religiously follows everything and anything Jane Austen. Having spent her entire life in Bath, every choice she makes and plans she devises revolve around the annual festival and fun she will have with her Janeite friends. When her best pen pal Morgan, travels across the pond to attend, Rose could not be happier. After assisting the very handsome Dr. Aiden Trevellyan with his lecture Rose is ready to enjoy her week off work and let the festivities begin. What she can’t help noticing is the woman upstairs named Jenny, who dresses and speaks meticulously in the Regency era. Who would ever believe that she is the real Jane Austen, appearing through time travel devices of a magical necklace? Who would dream that after their meeting Rose could become trapped with her in an alternate world where Jane has never been published and Mr. Darcy does not exist? Rose needs to find a way back to her world and life filled with her beloved novels. Fan fiction, fun fiction, paradies. Call it whatever you like, if you love Jane Austen then you can never get enough!
How significantly can one person alter the flow of time? How much is our life affected by small moments and new discoveries in our youth? Are good stories capable of changing the world? The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen, co-written by two authors, asks these questions and more, and generally answers them with an enthusiastic, "Yes!"
Two women in the present day, fans of Jane Austen who connected online, meet in Bath, England during the Jane Austen Festival. One, Rose, is shy and demure. Morgan, visitor from overseas, is bubbly and outgoing. Their friendship begins to grow as the festival gets underway, and both women feel as if romance might bud during the festival. Yet, fate has another plan as a mysterious stranger changes Rose and Morgan's plans and sends them on an unforgettable journey.
Stretching across time and asking questions about the impact of stories on our lives, these two women, as well as the mysterious stranger, must come to grips with their changed surroundings. For us as readers, we are also asked to pause and reflect on our own lives, and how they might be different if we were placed in the shoes of the characters. I enjoyed that this book became more than just a story, and asked me to think about my own past, even as the characters grappled with their own. The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen is a delight, one that bridges the now, the then, and the maybe in our friendships, and our hearts.
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen is a cute book for fans of Jane Austen but I felt this lacked a little in excitement, everything was quite predictable. It was nice to retrace the steps of Jane in Bath in modern times, overall a nice cozy read.
I'm sad to say that I really struggled to get through the majority of this book. It would seem to take off and I'd think..."Here we go, it's getting started now." Unfortunately, it would end up falling flat again.
Our leading lady, Rose finds herself in a world where Jane Austen never published a book because she was time traveling and was trapped outside of her own time period in the modern day. Rose's entire life is different because of this one change. Not only Rose's life, but many others as well. The only difference is that Rose is very much aware who Jane Austen is where others have no recollection of her whatsoever.
I thought this book had a clever premise. Sadly, I wish it had delivered the "feels" I was expecting. For me, I'm being generous by giving it a 3 star rating. At least from my viewpoint.
This was a very charming read. Time travel and Jane Austen seems like an odd mix, but the execution of this book was excellent. I loved the writing, I thought it flowed very well. The characters were great, and the relationships set between the characters were amazing, dynamic and organic. Everything about this book was enjoyable. I recommend it.
✒Austen fandom and time travel: uneven execution but interesting concept📖
3.5 🌟stars
Lovers of Jane Austen will enjoy the descriptions of Austen-themed events in contemporary Bath, the main setting of this time travel fantasy with a touch of humor and romance. Heroine Rose is a local resident who stumbles upon an Austen adventure in which she gets to help save Austen's literary heritage for the world. An interesting idea and the chapters in the middle of the book that focus on this mission are the best part. But the story drags at the beginning, enough so that a third through I almost gave up. Rose and Morgan, her American bosom buddy (though they've never before met in person!) seem way less mature than their age, and Morgan seems more the stereotypical boisterous American than a relatable character. Only Rose and Jane Austen herself get any in-depth exploration of their emotions. I also thought the authors' attempts at evoking Regency era speech for Austen felt awkward more than authentic.
There are truly touching moments for Jane and Rose and sweet, courtship interludes for Rose and Morgan, but the strange, abrupt ending put paid to any feeling of contentment or closure I expected.😕 I had no idea when I picked up this book that it would not have an ending!
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an ARC of this book! Release date - September 12, 2019
I really liked the premise of this book! A time traveling Jane Austen gets stuck in our day and throws the world into an alternate timeline where she disappeared before her novels were published. I REALLY liked this part of the story and based on the ending, it seems like there's going to be a sequel. I love time travel books and I love classics and Jane Austen, so this was right up my alley. I'm also usually critical of time travel, it has to make sense, and with very few exceptions, this book really did it right. I also loved that apart from the time travel (as far as we know) some true unexplained events in Jane Austen's life and the places she lived inspired the fictional parts of this novel.
My one complaint is that the first 20% and the last 20% were almost completely unnecessary to the overall storyline. The beginning is SO much setup with Rose and her job and her friend visiting her, it could easily have been condensed into one or two chapters. And then the final 20%, once the Jane Austen storyline is basically ended, seemed to go on FOREVER with nothing happening until the very end. The last chapter and a few details from previous chapters could have been a great epilogue without dragging on so much.
That being said, the middle 60% (am I doing my math right here) was actually really excellent and I loved it. Didn't want to put it down. And the very end made me excited about where a sequel will go.
I definitely liked this book. The writing style was great, the characters were great, the storyline was great, and I'm looking forward to the next one!
DNF at 36%
I thought this was going to be fun & light but it was boring & slow. I wanted to push through but life is too short to waste time on this book.