Wild, Beautiful, and Free-a standalone

By Sophfronia Scott-new to me author

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publication 3/1/23, Read 6/16/24

Format: e-book, 322 pgs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC ❤️ ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ AA/Multicultural Interests
✔️ Historical
✔️ Adult/Women's Fic
✔️ Family drama
✔️ Jane Eyre retelling

Summary: Jeannette Bébinn grew up with her white Papa, his wife Madame Bébinn, and her half sister Calista on a Louisiana plantation in the 1800's. She was raised in the big house with her white sister being favored by her father. Her mother was a slave who died in childbirth, so she was raised by another slave Dorinda. When Jeannette's father dies the evil Madame sells her into slavery, even though her father left her an inheritance. Jeannette experiences the cruelty of slavery, escapes to the North, and gets a formal education to be a teacher. During the start of the Civil War, Jeannette meets and falls for Mr. Christian Colchester-a white landowner who becomes taken with Jeannette but has secrets of his own.

My Thoughts: I hit myself for waiting so long to read this book believing it was just another slave story. Jeannette was proud to be biracial and searched for her own happiness. She took on different jobs such as a teacher and combat nurse, finding new family along the way. The many maternal figures who protected and guided Jeannette. From Fanny and Aunt Nancy at the Mississippi plantation, to Ms. Temple the teacher at the Barbary Institution, Ms. Livingston at Fortitude Mansion, and Calista were all strong women who became her found family. There was a romance for Jeannette but isn't the center of of the story.

Overall, this was a heroine strong journey of self-discovery, courage, and freedom told from a proud and mixed race child turned woman during bondage, racial upheaval, and change.

This was a First Reads pick several months ago (in February since it released March 1st), it sounded like something I'd like to read but I chose a different book. When I saw it come up on Netgalley I got excited to read this all over again. Now, it is MANY months later and I'm finally reading this.... WHY did I wait so long!?
I adored this story. I can't remember the last book that made me cry this much.

I was immediately pulled into the story, it got slightly slow in the middle for me but then picked back up and didn't let me go once the war started. So emotional and gripping.

This was a surprising retelling of Jane Eyre because it brought the story into an unexpected backdrop - race and slavery during the American Civil War. The story translates the struggles of young Jane in the original novel at the hands of Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst, to the horrific experiences of enslavement, which made Jeannette's story even more impactful.

Jeannette is just as strong willed as Jane, and has the added comfort of having known a loving parent in her father who doted on her and treated her as a general favorite, although it upset his wife. Of course the hatred that Madame Bébinn felt for Jeannette is understandable in one sense - that Jeannette is the product of her husband's infidelity, but in the other sense - that Jeannette is half black - well that takes away all the sympathy we could have felt for her in that situation.

Most of the first half of this book is devoted to Jeannette's experiences as a young girl and I think this aspect is what makes this such an intriguing book. It shows a side of history and humanity that it is important to recognize, as it shaped our country and still has repercussions today. It's very impactful to read about Jeannette's struggle to escape slavery, as well as how it forms her as a woman. And in how it eventually forms the main conflict between her and the "Mr. Rochester" Christian Colchester.

While I enjoyed the romance between Jeannette and Christian - somehow the intensity and the emotional connection just wasn't there. It was hard to follow up with the romance, after such a harrowing and moving depiction of surviving slavery and especially for Jeannette to go through that at a young age. But I did appreciate the nuance in parallel between the original novel and the romance of this one. There is still a sense of mystery, although Colchester's secret is a little different to Rochester. I appreciated the turn this story took, and that the conflict felt right for the characters.

Once Jeannette strikes out again on her own, the author again brings interesting historical realism in how the protagonist becomes a nurse during the Civil War. It felt right for Jeannette, and also added so much to her character for her to show such compassion to others in the face of so much trauma and grief. I felt that this part of the story was also more captivating than the middle section with the romance. And Jeannette gets to reunite with someone that created the perfect, stirring moment that paled a little in comparison to her reunion with Colchester. Which was very sweet in itself, but just not the point of the story.

Jeanette builds some incredible connections with different characters throughout the book, and with the historical realism in the setting - I feel those to be the strong points of the story. The romance and the comparison to Jane Eyre is nice, but if you are at all interested in the setting, this is a wonderful and insightful read.

This is a story that highlights some key topics in history surrounding slavery. Jeannette is born the daughter of an enslaved woman whose father is the plantation owner. She is raised alongside her white half sister until her father unexpectedly dies. His wife sells Jeannette into slavery. She escapes slavery and is living in a safe haven for escaped slaves where she meets Christian Robichaud Colchester. They have an instant connection, but Jeannette struggles with finding where she feels she fits in. This was a beautiful yet difficult story to read. I admire the character of Jeannette as she struggled throughout her life to find her place in the world. This is a great book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

'I was and still am nothing but a bit of soul in. slight packaging'.

Jeannette Bebinn is born on a Louisiana plantation in the mid 19th Century. Her father Jean is the plantation owner but her mother was a slave, who died giving birth to her. Despite Jean's wife's utter disdain for Jeannette's existence, she is brought up in the house alongside her white, half-sister. Things take a dark turn though when Jean unexpectedly dies. After having been raised 'white', Jeannette is sold into slavery and transported far from the only home she has known. Jeannette is forced to question her identity and determine if she is 'white' like the blue eyes she inherited or 'black' like her 'nappy hair'. 'When must one be accepting, and when must a man do everything in his power to break free?'

'Wild, Beautiful and Free' is a unique coming-of-age story of a mixed-race girl growing up in the tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War. It's about love and hate. It's about owning who you are and living that life in gratitude. 'What good would it do to be mad? I'd have to be mad every day.' Sophfronia has a lovely way with words and I was invested in Jeannette's journey; toward self-acceptance and ultimately home. For me, the storyline dwelled in the middle a bit but overall I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to both historical fiction lovers and to those who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

Sensitively written, I found this book a bit disappointing in its seemingly manic adherence to the story of Jane Eyre. Despite this, the story of Jeannette and her journey through almost insurmountable odds is touching and a story of survival.

Wild, Beautiful, and Free by Sophfronia Scott is a compelling, powerful, deeply absorbing read.
I love Sophronia Scott's writing.
Reading Jeannette’s journey was a rewarding experience and I enjoyed every second of it.
A true spellbinding novel and one I was very consumed by.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

An interesting Jane Eyre retelling set in the years leading up to and through the Civil War, but the secrets were easy to see coming and it lacked the Gothic atmosphere of the original.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc.