Scan barcode
marlynb's review
4.0
I didn't really know what to expect when I read this book. All I knew was the blurb on the back, and one or two reviews I'd skimmed. But I thought that any book with Jane Austen as the owner of a bookstore wouldn't disappoint, and I was right! I would have finished this book in one day, if I'd been able to keep my eyes open 15 minutes longer.
Jane ... Fairfax, as she calls herself, is undead. Yes, that's right, Jane is a vampire. We soon discover that although she owns Flyleaf Books, in a small town in New York, she still harbors dreams of being a published author. However, her latest manuscript has been declined by 116 publishers, and she is beginning to despair that she'll ever be published again, when she receives an email from an editor at Browder Publishing, telling her the novel is fantastic, and he'd love to publish it.
Jane is thrilled! Her book is a hit, but she finds that being a known author is much different from a century or so earlier. Best-selling authors are celebrities, and Jane is forced to deal with both admirers and antagonists.
This is an absolutely charming novel, despite the fact that it's protagonist is undead. I was pleased to see that "Jane Fairfax" will return in a sequel called Jane Goes Batty.
Jane ... Fairfax, as she calls herself, is undead. Yes, that's right, Jane is a vampire. We soon discover that although she owns Flyleaf Books, in a small town in New York, she still harbors dreams of being a published author. However, her latest manuscript has been declined by 116 publishers, and she is beginning to despair that she'll ever be published again, when she receives an email from an editor at Browder Publishing, telling her the novel is fantastic, and he'd love to publish it.
Jane is thrilled! Her book is a hit, but she finds that being a known author is much different from a century or so earlier. Best-selling authors are celebrities, and Jane is forced to deal with both admirers and antagonists.
This is an absolutely charming novel, despite the fact that it's protagonist is undead. I was pleased to see that "Jane Fairfax" will return in a sequel called Jane Goes Batty.
literallykalasin's review
3.0
This is a charming beach read. Imagine Jane Austen is alive and well today. Well, not really "alive" per se. More like undead. And not really "well"; she cannot seem to get another book published. Anyway, she's around.
Just like her heroines, Jane Austen needs to navigate the myriad problems of modern women with aplomb. Such issues as: dealing with men; running a successful business; and how to keep your secret identity as a blood-thirsty vampire under your hat -- the usual problems.
Just like her heroines, Jane Austen needs to navigate the myriad problems of modern women with aplomb. Such issues as: dealing with men; running a successful business; and how to keep your secret identity as a blood-thirsty vampire under your hat -- the usual problems.
gaderianne's review
2.0
I just didn't buy into this book...and before you ask...yes I do think it is possible to buy into a cheesy vampire chick lit novel. Just not this one.
The premise is a cute one. Jane Austen is a vampire who owns her own bookstore and is tired of all the Austen mania. (Oh and scores of other great literary figures are also vampires including the infamous bad boy poet who turned Jane against her will.) However , if I had to read one more time how disgruntled Jane was about not being able to collect royalty checks I was going to throw this book in the fire. (Once was enough.)
The main problem was that it just wasn't believable. When Jane, for example, came out to her co worker, the co worker was all...oh cool, la, la, la. Really? Jane's head was in the clouds, she didn't seem like she had a head on her shoulders, and she had no common sense. I just don't think that could be Jane Austen.
Then there was the ending. I won't spoil it beyod saying...really? You couldn't at least write an ending instead if just abruptly ending in order to sell the second book?
It may seem like I hated this book. I've read worse and in parts it was amusing. However, there wasn't enough there to keep me interested.
The premise is a cute one. Jane Austen is a vampire who owns her own bookstore and is tired of all the Austen mania. (Oh and scores of other great literary figures are also vampires including the infamous bad boy poet who turned Jane against her will.) However , if I had to read one more time how disgruntled Jane was about not being able to collect royalty checks I was going to throw this book in the fire. (Once was enough.)
The main problem was that it just wasn't believable. When Jane, for example, came out to her co worker, the co worker was all...oh cool, la, la, la. Really? Jane's head was in the clouds, she didn't seem like she had a head on her shoulders, and she had no common sense. I just don't think that could be Jane Austen.
Then there was the ending. I won't spoil it beyod saying...really? You couldn't at least write an ending instead if just abruptly ending in order to sell the second book?
It may seem like I hated this book. I've read worse and in parts it was amusing. However, there wasn't enough there to keep me interested.
acethirtynine's review
4.0
I wasn't sure I would like this book. I fact, I bought it mostly because I had a gift certificate for Barnes & Noble. I am happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was well written, entertaining, and funny.
dorian_gray02's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
thriftygeek's review
5.0
This was a good book one of my favorite off beat Austen related books. Never would have imagines Jane as a vampire. It has to "bite" seeing all the royalties you could get for your work and things inspired by it and can't.
catpingu's review
2.0
Honestly, if I'd read this while I was still in my elementary school years, I would have liked it better. Now, as an adult and having read real soul-consuming literature, I can only see this as a light-hearted comedic "what-if" scenario. Jane Austen's a vampire, ...
I like how it makes fun of contemporary icons like Stephen King ("a wordy man"), The Lovely Bones, Gwyneth Paltrow ("a celebrity who named their child Apple"), etc. So we can't take it too seriously, but I had been expecting a lot more because it took me so long to read it sooooo that's where my bias is playing in this rating. I don't intend on finishing the trilogy.
Spoiler
Lord Byron, and Charlotte BrontëI like how it makes fun of contemporary icons like Stephen King ("a wordy man"), The Lovely Bones, Gwyneth Paltrow ("a celebrity who named their child Apple"), etc. So we can't take it too seriously, but I had been expecting a lot more because it took me so long to read it sooooo that's where my bias is playing in this rating. I don't intend on finishing the trilogy.
bookish_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
margaretkearney's review
5.0
A brilliant read.Full of wit,laugh out loud moments and loads of refences to other similar genre books.Highly recommend.Shall definitley pick up the sequel.