An Unexpected Late In Life Romance for Jane Austen

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Jane Austen as a Fictional Character

THE PREMISE: Jane Austen, clever, celebrated, and a four time published novelist, lived a content life at Chawton Cottage with her sister, mother, and her novels. But just like in her novel Pride and Prejudice, there is nothing like new arrivals in town to infuse some excitement and entertainment into the busy nothings of daily life. In this situation, the new arrivals are a widowed gentleman by the name of John Wirthemore – who long ago was one of the students that boarded at Steventon and learned from her father – and his children…

MY THOUGHTS:

A Quills and Quartos romance about Jane Austen? To quote Jane Bennet in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice: “A thousand times yes!” I have read my fair share of books about the love life of our beloved authoress, and I am always eager for more. I love to imagine that Jane Austen had another significant or special romance in her life other Tom Lefroy and Harris Bigg-Wither. And I thought it especially intriguing that this romance takes place when Jane Austen is forty.

I loved being amongst the Austens at Chawton. We are able to observe the peace and routine Jane Austen found at this time of her life, and we see her bask in the joy of her novels being published and recognized by others. I loved seeing that Jane contentment with her life and her struggles with her current WIP.

One element of this tale I enjoyed was the introduction of new friends. How exciting to once again re-encounter an old friend from 30+ years ago and with whom they shared childhood memories. The affinity between the Austens and Mr. John Wirthemore was lovely to witness. I loved seeing the group walks, the dinner parties, and the watercolor lessons for the girls. And although there were some early signs of  admiration on both Jane’s and Mr. Wirthemore’s sides, it takes a good while more (200 pages) for their friendship to start to grow into anything more.

And I’m sad to say that overall that is what I didn’t love about this story – the romance itself. It had a sweet and charming beginning, but then Mr. Wirthemore displayed a lot of Mr. Bingley/Edmund Bertram like tendencies that showed a weakness of character. Now, I definitely don’t mind a flawed character (I prefer them), but I thought Jane deserved better. In addition, part of me wished for more than we received. More development of feelings, more emotions and internal introspections, more focus on the relationships and the changes/challenges this romance introduces, more about Jane Austen (less about the Wirthemores). Granted, I maybe had some high expectations of a grand emotive romance (Mr. Darcy/Captain Wentworth level) that probably influenced my mindset and caused some of my own disappointment.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

🙌🏼  I am thrilled and grateful to see a novel like (non Pride and Prejudice) from Quills and Quartos!

📖  A sweet and bittersweet what-if? tale that displays authenticity, ability, and ardent admiration for Jane Austen.

🫶🏼 I am deeply appreciative any author that features Jane Austen finding love. I love imagining this existed for her.

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