Jane In Love

3.5 stars<br /><br />I don’t normally read many books with time travel plots but this one had Jane Austen landing in the 21st century looking for love and that’s just too neat of a premise to pass up. I was hoping for a cute and enjoyable read and thankfully that was the case here.<br /><br />At the age of twenty-eight years old, Jane Austen hasn't been lucky when it comes to finding love. She would be content writing all day but her mother doesn't approve and forbids it. A single woman making a living as a writer just didn't really fly back in the 1800s. In her search for love, Jane ends up time traveling to the 21st century. Well, best of luck to you, Jane!<br /><br />I've read a few of Jane Austen's books but I honestly didn't know much about her. Obviously with a time travel plot, this book is a work of fiction. However, this author does bring in some known facts about Jane so there's a bit of a historical fiction vibe as well. Whatever genre you want to place the book in, I do think the author came up with a creative story. This book has also motivated me to seek out nonfiction books about Jane Austen as well as catch up on her other novels. It's always cool when one book sparks interest in others.<br /><br />The story follows a few characters besides Jane. I enjoyed the book but I do have mixed feelings on whether certain characters enhanced the story. I can't help but wonder if the romance would have been stronger had more attention been devoted to it rather than Sofia's career. I appreciate the author wanting to bring a lot of things to the table but unfortunately not everything felt fully fleshed out. <br /><br />Might not have been a perfect read but I did have a good time reading this one. This is a nice story to sit down with after a hard day.<br /><br />I received a free copy of this book from William Morrow. All views expressed are my honest opinion.<br /><br />

A romantic comedy for book lovers, and just in time for Valentine’s Day! Imagine that Jane Austen travelled through time to the present day, and fell in love. Would she stay, knowing that choosing love meant erasing herself from literary history? Or would she go back, knowing that it meant missing her chance at a happily-ever-after? That’s the premise of Jane In Love, the debut novel of Sydney screenwriter and filmmaker Rebecca Givney. The fine folks at Penguin Books Australia were kind enough to send me a copy for review.<br /><br />This probably isn’t one for the Austen purists. I mean, I’m only a casual fan, and even I was a bit perturbed by Austen as the boy-crazy love-hearts-for-eyes type of heroine, and also by the relative absence of her sister, Cassandra, from the narrative (given her importance in Austen’s “real” life). Still, this was a delightful, warm, and easy read that seamlessly merged the 19th and 21st centuries – definitely a great bookish gift for your historical-fiction-loving Valentine.<br /><br />An extended review will be available to subscribers at <a href="http://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/new-releases/" rel="nofollow noopener">Keeping Up With The Penguins</a>.

This turned out to be far more delightful than I could have ever anticipated. What a truly unique and rather insightful novel! Jane Austen accidentally time travels to 2020, where she ends up being in the difficult position of having to choose between love and her true calling in life: to be a writer. Now, most of you know that I am not a fan of romance so when I say to you that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this novel, then you can rest assured that it’s more than a romantic comedy. Yes, there are both of those things woven through the narrative in the most entertaining manner, but there’s so much more as well. I’ve read a couple of books now, both fiction and non-fiction, that have given an indication of Jane’s personality and I feel as though Rachel Givney has captured the essence of what Jane might have been like with a measure of authenticity. She also captured the genuine feel of 1803 in a manner that was distinct from 2020. Both character and scene were so well written within this novel, and with such a unique story binding these elements together, this one really was a winner for me.<br /><br />‘Further conversation revealed, to her horror, that he admired Cecilia, Jane’s favourite book. Jane was worried, for now she enjoyed this man’s company, respected his opinions and shared his mockery of Bath. With his one great defect being the smallness of his coat buttons, Jane had no choice but to like Mr Withers.’<br /><br />I do enjoy a bit of well written time travel fiction and I did think that this one was done quite well. Not just the actual teleportation and logistics, but more the way in which Jane was plunged from 1803 to 2020 and how she reacted to this. The way Jane noticed how things smelled – the inside of a train smelling of cut metal, for example – was a telling symbol to demonstrate just how much has changed between the eras. Likewise, people’s teeth; she was astonished by the whiteness, freshness of breath and the fact that people weren’t missing their incisors or canines. Water streaming from a tap, so crystal clear, as opposed to discoloured and blobbing out of an outdoor hand pump. These observations were worked into the narrative in a way that made me, as a reader, appreciate our modern-day comforts that we take for granted all the more. Quite often when we read historical fiction, it can be authentic in its representation whilst not actually disclosing the small things: like missing teeth, bathing in dirty water, and rotting food. When it does disclose these things, it’s within the context of the era, so we don’t dwell on it. Jane’s utter amazement of modern life and its conveniences were delivered in direct contrast to what was missing from her own era, making it all the more apparent. Waffling on a bit about all this, but I thought it was really well done.<br /><br />‘It bore consideration that the year 2020 also produced a similar degree of advancement upon 1803. But how exactly did human progress manifest? One thing stood for certain: twenty-first century humans had eradicated manual labour and replaced it with magic. A steel box washed the clothes. Another washed the crockery. Magic lit the candles and moved the steel carriages.’<br />~~~<br />‘She shook her head yet again at these people and their inventions. They had conjured so many devices to save time and to make life easier, yet everyone walked around faster and looking more anguished.’<br /><br />1803 is before Jane wrote and published her books. She had been writing, but an early version of Pride and Prejudice had been rejected by a publisher and she had been forbidden by her mother to continue with her writing because it was deemed as almost immoral, and most certainly a deterrent to finding a husband, which was of course, the only thing that mattered to Mrs Austen – and ‘society’. When Jane arrives in 2020, she quickly discovers that she is an author of renown, a fact that astounds her and excites her in equal measure.<br /><br />‘A momentary silence filled the house as Jane stopped breathing. She stared at the six books which now lay on the table. She read each title in turn. They shared a common author.’<br />~~~<br />‘She allowed herself to consider that there might be some minuscule chance lunacy had not taken her, but rather, with a sound mind, she had indeed cast a spell which had moved her through time to the year 2020, where her reputation as an author was such that museums were now built in her honour. It was pure fiction, surely.’<br /><br />The problem arises when Jane’s books begin to disappear, one by one, the longer she remains in the present day. It takes some time for Jane and her new friend Sofia to realise what is causing this to happen, but as each book disappears, Jane’s legacy shrinks from history, causing changes that point in the direction of Jane Austen, author and literary icon, becoming non existent. Jane cannot have everything: love in the modern day as well as a career as a writer. She must choose, and in this we see the struggle of creative women throughout history exemplified. This whole story is just so clever, and like I already mentioned but will reiterate for emphasis, wholly insightful.<br /><br />‘Jane. You won’t be famous in your lifetime. You will receive some small recognition, but you will never know the reception which celebrates you now. You will never know what you become.’<br />Jane nodded and gazed at the ground. ‘But I will write?’<br />Sofia sighed and fixed her face in a sad smile. ‘You will write.’<br /><br />Recommended of course for fans of Jane Austen but I also think this would be an excellent way to inspire readers who have never read Jane Austen to do so. Jane in Love is a love letter to Austen herself, an ode to her genius and a reminder of how fortunate the world is in being able to read and treasure her novels.<br /><br />Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a review copy of Jane in Love.

Jane In Love is the first novel by Australian filmmaker and author, Rachel Givney. At the age of twenty-eight, Jane Austen, single woman of Bath, is keenly aware that unless she finds a husband, a future as an old maid looms. But she seems more talented at not attracting a man, with her unfeminine interests, her writing, her walks through the countryside and her sartorial inelegance.<br /><br />After another promising meeting with a young man ends in disappointment, Jane accepts the advice of a poor neighbour woman, who sends her to a matchmaker in London. An unimpressive encounter; Jane returns to Bath with a barely-legible note in her pocket. But when she finally deciphers and recites it, something strange happens…<br /><br />Attractive, popular and famous, actress Sofia Wentworth has taken a role in a Jane Austen-based movie in the hope of rekindling her failing marriage with her director husband, Jack Travers. But the part turns out to be nothing she wanted and, as she hides in the wings, a young woman in period costume appears amongst the curtains. Clearly some sort of production gimmick. Sofia goes along with it, humours the (rather good, actually) actress with her insistence that she’s Jane Austen. <br /><br />Fred Wentworth is no actor (he teaches high school history) but, feeling sorry for his sister and her marital problems, he’s reluctantly agreed to be an extra in Sofia’s movie. Which is how he finds himself dancing with an annoying young woman claiming to be Jane Austen. She’s like no other actress he’s met, and she accepts his casual invitation for a drink, but then stands him up. <br /><br />He’s certainly not expecting to find her asleep in his spare bedroom. It seems that all of their interactions are fated to be laced with irritation, and yet, Fred is drawn to her. Meanwhile, his sister’s bid to win back her husband is being sabotaged by a much younger actress. And as Sofia and Jane try to figure out how to get Jane back to 1803, they notice something strange is happening with Jane’s books…<br /><br />Time travel and Jane Austen: not just anyone can pull it off, but Givney gives the reader a tale that starts off a bit cute and light-hearted, funny and entertaining, but is at the same time a commentary on twenty-first-century life: the ubiquity of mobile phones and our worship of them; how our many labour-saving and safety devices don’t necessarily make our lives more relaxed or safer; and more.<br /><br />Jane’s nineteenth century perspective on many aspects of twenty-first century life, both technical and social, is expertly rendered: always perceptive, often amusing and occasionally thought-provoking. For the many things to which we are so very accustomed (either from personal experience or TV): clothing and manners (or lack thereof); escalators; washing machines; TV; the Tube; supermarkets; a defibrillator in action; Givney’s descriptions from Jane’s point of view are quite superb. <br /><br />Although, now and then, the twenty-first-century characters slip into nineteenth-century-speak, Givney’s portrayal of Austen is sensitive and sympathetic. Austen Purists will no doubt find things in this book about which to complain: this is not a book for those purists. This is a book for people who love Jane Austen and who are grateful that she stuck with writing her books instead of becoming a diligent nineteenth-century wife. Inevitably, there are some seriously lump-in-the-throat, tear-in-the-eye moments at the end and tissues may be required. An outstanding debut novel.<br />This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Michael Joseph: Penguin Australia.<br />

This was a good book but it was very slow and not as fun as I thought it would be.

*<a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com">https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com</a><br /><br />With the claim that Rachel Givney’s Jane in Love is ‘Time Travellers’ Wife meets Persuasion’, I was excited by one of the book comparisons, but not the other! Generally I get very tetchy about time travel books, the whole logistics of it all completely baffles me! However, in this case, the Persuasion reference definitely caught me. Jane in Love is a wholly entertaining novel, light but also whimsical, with great comedic timing. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one!<br /><br />Jane in Love issues a moral conundrum to one of our most respected female novelists of all time. Imagine if literary enigma Jane Austen had to make the heartbreaking choice between true love and her talent for writing. Rachel Givney’s debut novel presents this idea, with interesting results. When we are first acquainted with Miss Austen in the novel she is a twenty eight year old spinster. Although Jane longs for love and marriage, she is also dedicated to writing. However, a chance opportunity to discover the meaning of true love sends Jane spiraling into the present day world of 2020. In current day time, Jane is sent on journey to find her one true love – the only problem is they live centuries apart. With Jane unexpectedly plunged into modern day English society, she must learn understand her new world and the changes that go with it. Helping Jane through her difficult transition from the eighteenth century to the present day is Sofia, a film star Jane meets on the set of the latest Jane Austen adaptation. The two forge a strong and unexpected bond. Sofia also introduces Jane to her brother Fred, a charming and kind man who doesn’t know that true love is calling for him. As Jane begins to fall for Fred, strange things begin to occur. Suddenly Jane’s literary strength falls and in order to prevent her status in literary history from disappearing altogether she must make a heartbreaking choice.<br /><br />First time novelist Rachel Givney takes on quite an ambitious project with her debut novel. Reimagined lives of prominent figures can often prove tricky and it can be especially hard to get the finer details right. I feel Givney put her heart and soul into this novel. As a result, we have a strong recreation of Jane Austen and her life both in present day Britain and her life in the eighteenth century. Although I had some reservations about the time travel aspect of this novel, I found Jane in Love to be a delightful read.<br /><br />Givney does an excellent job of recreating Jane Austen’s world in the regency period. I loved being immersed in this era and Givney has strived in the world building department to provide a solid reimagining of this fascinating point in time. Connected to this historical reconstruction was Givney’s embodiment of her lead, along with key figures such as Mr and Mrs Austen and Jane’s sister Cassandra. I think Givney was mindful of staying true to these well-known fictional characters and Austen’s world.<br /><br />In the present day, after Jane’s step forward in time to 2020, Givney presents her audience with a full and authentic picture of life in present day society. I liked how Givney captured Jane’s wonderment, surprise and shock in response to the strange changes around her. Jane’s observations of life in 2020 were poignant, detailed and often comical. The friendship that develops between Jane and Sofia, the struggling film star, was a joy to read. Likewise, the developing potential romance between Jane and Sofia’s brother Freddy was heartfelt and meaningful. The major complication of this story is handled very well and the reader feels just as torn as Jane when she must choose between life as a famous writer, or true love. It is a heart wrenching choice and both sides of this fateful decision are presented in a balanced fashion.<br /><br />In terms of romance, Givney’s approach is gentle and there are some truly touching moments, as well as some stark realisations that the characters must confront. Tying in Sofia’s modern day troubles with Jane’s dilemma was fabulous. I feel each of these issues presented their own level of angst. We all know how history plays out, especially if you are an Austen fan, but it was still a great pleasure to enjoy the possibilities Jane in Love had to offer!<br /><br />*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.<br /><br />Jane in Love is book #63 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge

Oh my gosh, I’m blown away by this story. Jane Austen…WOW! <br />This was so cute, heartwarming and a magical ride. I pretty much don’t know anything about Jane Austen, and I have never read any of her books so I enjoyed the fact that we got to know Jane to some extent before she time traveled to 2020. This book has given me the incentive to read a Jane Austen novel. I very much hope I will love it as much as I loved Jane in Love.<br /><br />A beautifully written, super fun, and unique story. Highly recommended.<br /><br />Audio version was fabulous.

Ale to przyjemna i ciepła książka ? Idealna dla miłośników Jane Austen.

Have you ever had the wonderful experience of picking up the right book at the right time? That's what I was lucky enough to have with Jane in Love, my first read of the new decade! At a time when I was feeling anxious, this lovely novel came as the perfect balm.<br /><br />Jane in Love is a warm, heartfelt ode to Austen and romance, with both humour and heartache built-in. In her debut, Givney brings a cinematic understanding to the novel form, and perfectly balances levity and gravity.<br /><br />When a young Jane Austen is spurned by an intriguing man, and - worse! - her mother casts her manuscript into the fire, she is driven to seek advice from a strange woman in London. The result is an enchantment (although Jane doesn't know this as she reads it) that will take her to her true love. It turns out this person lives in present day Bath, so Jane finds herself suddenly materialising on a twenty-first century film set - for Northanger Abbey. Found by fading mega-star Sofia Wentworth (whose perspective we see in alternating chapters), what follows is the journey Jane takes to fulfil the magic's quest to find love, while also discovering the huge impact her novels have had over time. As she begins to find love, though, her novels begin to vanish one by one, leaving Jane with a very difficult choice.<br /><br />Givney writes an excellent Jane Austen. She is very much the woman we know and wish her to be - highly intelligent, curious, independent and quick to judge - but is still of her time, and often overwhelmed by modern innovations. Austen fans will not be disappointed by this portrayal.<br /><br />While Jane's plot rightly steals the show, Sofia's subplot, as she navigates the emotional strain of a divorce and the indignity of a younger woman taking the leading role, is engaging and feminist and will leave you cheering.<br /><br />The central question of this novel is one many women are familiar with - to choose love, or one's passion/career. Givney treats this dilemma honestly and seriously, without being saccharine or dismissive. She explores the question from both Jane and Sofia's perspectives, allowing them each time to grow and learn as the story progresses.<br /><br />There are plenty of nods to Austen's novels peppered throughout (I finally noticed the grandest just before it was revealed!), and Givney shows a deep and deft knowledge of her oevure without it weighing on the plot. There are some truly delightful moments - Austen visiting a museum about herself in Bath, for example - to balance out the more complex ones of a person displaced in time.<br /><br />I also loved the descriptions of Bath (they made me want to get on a plane!), and the way Givney showed us how the city has changed, and how it has not.<br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed delving into this story, and stayed up way too late finishing it. A wonderful exploration of love, literature, and finding your place in the world.<br /><br />Recommended if you liked: Kate and Leopold (film).<br /><br />I received a copy of Jane in Love from Penguin Books Australia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I think there is a lot of good going for this book. I really loved the first part in the past with Jane. The future (present time) is where I started to fall out of love with the book and I made the decision to DNF only because I have a ton of other books to read. If I had more time to read, I might have stuck it out to the end. In talking to some other book friends, there are things that are part of the plot that I felt contrary to Jane's character and didn't make me anxious to pick the book back up.<br /><br />I urge you to give this a try if it sounds like it might interest you! <br /><br />Thank you to William Morrow and Rachel Givney for the finished copy.<br /><br />Publication Date: 10/27/2020