I've been excited for Escaping Mr. Rochester ever since I heard about it. Mostly because I really dislike Jane Eyre. That doesn't make sense does it? But I was so looking forward to McKinney's queer take on the story. And it was fabulous. Escaping Mr. Rochester manages to not only stay true to the foundations of Jane Eyre, but also gives justice not only to Bertha's voice, but also the awful character of Rochester. The ways in which he preys on Bertha. While giving Bertha a voice, Escaping Mr. Rochester is tender, emotional, and a homage to justice.

This book accomplished a feat that 3 years of undergrad and 1 year of studying English Literature never managed to do, and that is: this book made me want to read Jane Eyre.

(I struggle to read classics for a few reasons, 1) I can’t seem to read when I’ve been told what to read, even if it’s a book I love 2) I still find the language hard to understand and to engage with! I know there’s some beautiful writing but everything in between makes my head hurt.)

However, I also fear I won’t like Jane Eyre as much because I read this book and liked it so much. Maybe we will find out one day!

So I would say my favourite thing about this book is how it reimagined a classic, but it was so accessible. I can’t speak much to the changes McKinney made and how much inspiration she drew from the original Brontë classic, but I liked what she did. This is a fun rendition.

My rating is probably around 3.5/3.75⭐️ stars. I think some chapters began to feel a bit repetitive and the pace could’ve been picked up in places. Overall though I liked the twists, the romance, and the little found family that was found amidst all the chaos.

I'm a great lover off Jane Eyre and I was curious about what the author would. do with this story but I loved it.

What made this book a good retelling of Jane Eyre is that it took the characters and gave them a new story and new change. I really think this true. for Bertha which I think she really deserved. In most retelling off Jane Eyre she is seen as a villain and not a victim. I also think it is a. logical spin on the original story because in that time difficult women where. seen. as mad.

The take that the author took with mr. Rochester was interesting yet also fitting in his character.

I think the only thing that made it a 4 star and not a 5 star was that the use of modern language in some places was a bit off for me personally. This also took me out of the story a bit.

I will definitely recommend this book in the future for people that would want to read Jane Eyre but can't get through original book

Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall with no desire for a husband. Her enployer us charming and attractive, but his mood changes on a dime. Between that and the creepy wailing coming from throughout the house, Jane is suspicious of the secrets in the great house. Meanwhile, Bertha plots her escape from the attic, and when she meets Jane, she may actually have a shot at freedom.

This book is full of drama. A queer, poc retelling of Jane Eyre that includes much more of the wife in the attic storyline, I won’t say I enjoyed it more than the original, buuuuuut I might have. Make it queer. Make it black. Make it brown. Make it more feminist. I’m here for all of it. It took me a minute to get into the story, but I’m super happy I kept with it, because once I was into, it didn’t let me go, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really think this is going to be my last L.L. McKinney book. I’m not sure her writing is for me. I know this was a loose retelling, but it was like really boring lol It wasn’t until like 87% that this started picking up. And usually I would have DNFed way before this… And like I should have LOL

To say this was a retelling, it was a really fun one! The twist on this had me shocked! These people were all unhinged. Trapping her there? The kid? The friend?! Everything was crazy and I felt like I had whiplash as I was reading. And usually I love books like this.

The only problem was, it came too late. The whole time it went on and on and it made me increasingly annoyed lol But this isn’t the first time I didn’t connect with a book by L.L. McKinney. I think her writing style just doesn’t do it for me. It’s the reason I haven’t read Nubia either. Because I can’t not love that one. I think I’d rather die first.

The romance was….. not it. But I can’t be mad at it because of the type of book it was. However, it was pitched to me as a romantic suspense novel and that was not it. It was definitely historical fiction and some romance. They don’t even see each other until late in the novel. If you’re someone who was told this has a sapphic relationship, it does have one, but it’s barely there.

It’s been a while since I was this disappointed in a book. The plot and the book synopsis were great, but the execution was not great. Also, can we stop telling people what a book is about before we really know? Because Lordt this is the second time in a short while this has happened to me. Get it together world!

*spoilers and content warnings for this review*

This was a nice historical fiction novel to read and yet... I do need to highlight the fact that I firmly do not believe do not think this book should be categorized and promoted for young adults as its target audience.

Reading the blurb, I was under the impression that this book would be an adventure-filled sapphic romance with undertones of a haunted house with two girls finding love. Instead, this book is a frightening trigger to anyone who has grown up in a narcissistic and abusive household and/or has a history with DV/DA.

Edward is a nightmare of an employer, husband, and father who has emotionally neglected his 10 y/o ward, chained, physically abused, and withheld food for his 23 y/o wife claiming she's dead to the world, and hiring a 19 y/o governess in dire need for money, who he refuses to pay wages for, gaslighting and manipulating her into going along with his machinations, and coming on to her in multiple ways and threatening her to go on dates with him.

In summary, the plot in this novel is three innocent women fighting for freedom from their abuser and his entire support staff who are also very much contributing to that abuse. With a history of murdering and getting rid of those that don't follow his will, the women are frightened and yet doing the best they can with the hand of cards life has dealt them. This novel is a prolonged exposition DV/DA and even as an adult who has been many years removed from their past, the immersiveness of the beautiful prose and these full bodied characters had me hyperventilating with flashbacks. To me, this felt even more intense as I did not at all expect such a lengthy commentary on all the ways one man can take advantage of those who can't fight back in a young adult novel, without the adequate commentary necessary to support these topics typically present in books for teens.

I do understand the need for the youth to read books that discuss and explore hard hitting topics and tough social commentary which may or may not reflect their home lives or the relationships they go through. For example, the young adult and middle grade books written by Amber McBride, Sonora Reyes, Candice Iloh, Randy Ribay, Hannah V. Sawyer, Angie Thomas, Maia Kobabe, Aislinn Brophy, etc etc all deal with incredibly hard hitting topics that are necessary for children to read. However, as mentioned previously, what this book lacks is proper the conversations necessary to be able to support the heavy weight of the contents of this novel.

While adults would be able to properly parse out the implications of the endless, mostly subtle horrors presented in this novel, the intended target audience needs a lot more nuanced conversations. For example, but most significantly, the comeuppance the major abuser faces which comes at the very end of the book where he is killed by his own 10 y/o daughter. They come to a head in the "final battle scene" where both Jane and Bertha are incapacitated, and this child ends up having to murder her own father and abuser. There are no further conversations around this massive undertaking that a young girl who has suffered years of abuse must endure; there is no discussion on the abuse that this man heaped upon all three women before the novel ended. Just that they were finally free and able to finally have a happy sapphic ending.

In conclusion, while I did enjoy my reading experience with this novel, it would be quite irresponsible for me to ever promote this as a YA book and even recommending this to adults, I would caution readers to check content warnings before choosing to dive in.

in this reimagining of jane eyre, jane eyre and bertha mason must save each other from mr. rochester. when jane accepts a governess position at thornfield hall, she’s quickly drawn in by edward rochester’s charm. however, it doesn’t take her long to realize that this charm doesn’t last long, and thornfield hall is surely hiding some sinister secrets. one of these secrets, she eventually discovers, is bertha mason, locked away on the topmost floor…

retellings/reimaginings are books i normally end up loving, so i was excited to see how this book played out. jane and bertha are black and sapphic, and i enjoyed reading about how they navigated the world inside and outside of thornfield hall.

honestly, i’ve forgotten most of the events of jane eyre since reading it, so i won’t really be able to comment on how closely this book follows it, though i’m fairly certain this was pretty different. i think that fans of the original will enjoy this new reimagining!

I really had no idea what text back when I was going into this book but I really love it and the fact that it’s based on the Charlotte Brontë classic novel makes it so interesting I will say I was very taken with the story. It was very mysterious for me, and, it’s a great for all ages

I've been waiting for this book for years. A beautiful retelling of Jane Eyre but without the toxic Rochester. I love how both Jane and Bertie are portrayed. I love Adele. I adored the love letters. Good sapphic romance is always going to make me feral. And this is certainly no exception. This will be going into my collection the second it is available and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in return for my honest feedback

In "Escaping Mr. Rochester," author LL McKinney offers a fresh and incisive take on the classic "Jane Eyre" story, critically examining the original through a Black, sapphic lens. This captivating remix follows the story of Jane, a young woman seeking to escape the oppressive confines of her upbringing and find her own path.
One of the standout features of this book is McKinney's skillful use of language. The writing is both lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the world of the story and keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are complex and well-developed, with motivations and desires that feel authentic and relatable.
Overall, "Escaping Mr. Rochester" is a must-read for fans of the original "Jane Eyre" story, as well as anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read that explores themes of identity, oppression, and self-discovery. McKinney's critical examination of the original adds depth and nuance to the story, making it a timely and relevant read for our current moment.

For anyone who thought Mr Rochester was just a bit too creepy in the original Jane Eyre, I present this book to you. I know that Jane Eyre was written in a different time, but I’ve never managed to get passed the fact that Rochester locked a woman in the attic! A whole person! Just locked away and written off.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading many queer and POC retellings of classic literature and this one is just as fantastic.

Jane and Adele’s relationship was my favorite part of the book I think. Adele is such a sweet kid and I would have loved to see a bit more of Jane, Bertha, and Adele living their free and best lives all together.

My only real grievance is Jane’s recklessness. The way that she just questioned almost everything suspicious without ever considering it may be better to keep it to herself was frustrating.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

I have never liked Jane Eyre, even though it is my mum's favourite book, I just have never been able to enjoy it.
HOWEVER, the fact that this book honestly has me thinking of giving the original another shot, if only to analyse and review how incredible 'Escaping Mr. Rochester' reimagined and reworked & made the original book more realistic - that in itself is a testament of how much I loved this book!

Giving voice to the character of Bertha and showing the realistic horror of being imprisoned in your own home by your own husband was something the original story has always lacked. She is given a voice and story that I truly find inspiring. Her character and backstory show a new light on Mr Rochester - as I never liked him or believed his sob story about his wife.
The sides that Jane & Bertha know and both experience in Mr Rochester show a man's power in this period and what he will do to those to whom he believes he is entitled.
This newer, fresher take on Jane's character is much easier to believe because she understands those around her and her suspicions about them. My favourite was her sympathy for her charge and knowing how the world works for those left behind!

I think L.L. Mckinney has done an outstanding job in improving a literary classic! I highly recommend it!

Jane Eyre is hired by Edward Rochester to be the governess of his child. After some time, Jane realizes that the man she works for is hiding many secrets. With help from Adele, Jane rescues Bertha (Edward’s wife) from being chained up and held against her will.

For those of you who love the classics, you’re going to be happy to hear we have a new modernized edition, this is a YA retelling of Jane Eyre. The author takes the idea of Rochester being the villain of this old story and brings it to life making him even more sinister and Jane and Bertha have to escape his clutches. I’m not much of a classic reader myself but knowing there’s a new diverse option that can bring new readers in, always happy to see that. It’ was fun with a little added dose of romance you can’t go wrong with adding this one to your wishlist.

A refreshing, sapphic, re-imagining of Charlotte Bronte's classic original story of sad and gloomy "Jane Eyre". This retelling luckily never stayed too depressing as it showed how our 3 FMC's were strong and brave despite their circumstances being under Rochester's ever watching eyes in Thornfield Hall.

Even though it felt like it took forever for Jane to find out about Bertha, there was enough world building and character set up between Bertha's chapters and Jane Chapters before their worlds collided.

I was entirely happy as their hope for not only being able to escape Thornfield grew, but their pinning for love and affection for each other grew as well.

A lot of the story was written in between Jane and Betha's thoughts instead of through speech and action, but that reflects off the original classic of inner reflections of Jane.

A wonderfully written representation of LGBTQIA+ sapphic love story filled with hope, independence, strength and determination.

Escaping Mr. Rochester is an extremely satisfying retelling of Jane Eyre in which Jane and Bertha fall in love and, as the title implies, escape the clutches of Edward Rochester, who has been keeping Bertha captive in the attic. Jane Eyre is my favorite classic of all time and I LOVED this reimagining. One of the coolest things is the writing style. It really hearkens back to Charlotte Brontë's own style but is still very accessible for the modern young adult reader. It really put me in the Jane Eyre vibes and mindset again.

I am so happy to finally have Bertha's point of view!! I so enjoyed her chapters and her character. The contrast between her chapters and Jane's were well done. It wasn't annoying to have to wait for Jane to discover what was really going on (usually I'm kind of annoyed by dramatic irony) and I loved the letters they wrote to each other. I do wish their relationship could have been a little more developed but then again, Bertha is imprisoned so that doesn't leave much opportunity for it. The letters were a great way to convey their pining. There were a lot of elements of the original book that were left out (understandably, of course) but I feel like just a couple more could have made the story a little more complex. However, I deeply enjoyed the elements already there and the twist McKinney put on them--Jane's history with Helen (I have ALWAYS wanted that to be sapphic), Adéle's character (SHE IS A QUEEN), and what happened to Adéle's mom.

I highly recommend this book to any fan of Jane Eyre (unless they're die-hard Rochester fans). I absolutely loved how Jane, Bertha, and Adéle banded together and the exploration of their relationships. I've honestly been waiting for this book to come out ever since L.L. McKinney announced it and I am so happy and satisfied now that I've finally read it!

Seeking independence, Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall. Her charming employer Edward harbors dark secrets, including his trapped wife Bertha. As Edward’s sinister plans escalate, placing both Jane and Bertha in peril, their only hope lies in each other. But can they escape the dangerous mansion and Edward’s nightmarish schemes before it’s too late?

What a wonderful “Jane Eyre” retelling! It’s captivating right from the start. The characters are compelling, the atmosphere deliciously gothic. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I am not usually a classics girl, but I love this Sapphic and Black re-imagining of Jane Eyre!

Jane is starting a governess position at the estate of Edward Rochester to teach his young ward, Adele. Little does Jane know, Edward has been keeping his wife Bertha imprisoned upstairs.

Even though I had an idea of how the story was going to go, I still enjoyed the twist. It's rather slow-paced until the last 15%, but I didn't mind. I really wish there had been an epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

I have mostly positive, but mixed feelings about this one. The characters are strong and well written. Jane has all of the self actualization of the original Jane Eyre, while Bertha has that perfect combination of rage, exhaustion, and flickers of hope for freedom. Rochester is depicted extremely well as a hugely manipulative man who knows exactly what he's doing and has his act down to a science, while still harkening back to the original Rochester.

The only character that I wasn't positive about was Adele; I liked her a lot but I was never quite certain how old she was supposed to be. Sometimes she acted very young, and other times she talked like a teenager. There was a particular point at which she repeats some words Rochester said to her mother long ago, which end up being the exact words Rochester used on Jane recently, and it felt very forced - to remember those exact words so well felt awkward coming out of an ostensibly ten-ish year old child.

I think the romance was done very well, with the establishment of Jane as very much someone who loves women with her past with Helen, and the very romantic letters that she and Bertha exchange. It was slow burn but didn't overstay its welcome.

There was something about the pacing that didn't quite hit with me, though I couldn't exactly put my finger on it. It felt a bit fast, and choppy? And while the final confrontation was as climactic as it should have been, I found the twist just before that to be just a bit awkward and didn't have as much of an affect on me as I think it was supposed to.

Overall, though, this is a solid retelling that I think is well worth the read regardless of your familiarity with the original Jane Eyre.

“Escaping Mr. Rochester” is an updated re-telling of Jane Eyre. In this version, L.L. McKinney’s Jane arrives to be the governess to Mr. Rochester’s ward. Soon, Jane is creeped out by strange sounds, odd behavior of other employees, and a sense of general foreboding. She soldiers on while Edward Rochester becomes more mercurial and Jane discovers one of his secrets.

This book builds up steam to the point where you don’t want to put it down. It is dark and brooding, but also contains some moments of lightness and love. I love that Jane will ask for what she wants whether it be art supplies for her young charge or back pay that she is owed. Among the trigger warnings I would include: violence against women, potential violence against children, domestic abuse.

Classroom considerations: It would be really interesting to directly compare this version (and others) to the original Jane Eyre. How does the story change over time to add elements that are more reflective of the society in which the story is written?

This book would be great for teens and adults who enjoy gothic stories and retellings of classics.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.