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gfs0619's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book as a free read on Kindle and loved it. The story is cute and funny and doesn't progress in the way that I expected which made me like it even more. The way the characters progressed from teenagers to adults seemed very real to me. This is a great story and I highly recommend it!
yodamom's review against another edition
3.0
A modern Pride and Prejudice. With a young girl- women who is haunted by jane Austin. She finds her "friend" is full of advice, but sometimes you have to go your own way. It was a cute romance, with a predictable ending, definitely chick lit. I could see this as a movie.
milliegirl21's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
Ellie Barnett communicates with the famed Jane Austen. She has done so, ever since high school. It all started back when Ellie was sitting in Mrs. Leverson’s English class. She and Sam Blaine were flirting. There had this banter going on between them but hadn’t acted on it yet. Mrs. Leverson tells the class that their next book assignment is to read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Ellie skims the book and realizes P&P is not her cup of tea. That is when she hears a female’s voice with a British accent talking to her. The voice tells her that Sam is Ellie’s “Mr. Wickham”. Ellie discovers the voice is none other than Jane…Jane Austen.
As Ellie goes through life and many relationships, she can count on one person to always be there through it all…Jane. Ellie dreams of one day finding her Mr. Right. Though even the reigning queen of romance has a thing or two to learn about love.
I absolutely loved According to Jane. Marilyn Brant out did herself with this debut novel. I read this book in only a matter of a few hours. Ellie and Jane had me spellbound. I kept finding myself smiling and laughing. Forget the Jane Austen you know…this Jane is hip, fresh and sassy. She says it like it is. It was great to see Ellie blossom from a young girl into a beautiful woman. Fans of Jane Austen will fall for Ellie in According to Jane. According to Jane is a pleasure read and it belongs on everyone’s shelf.
As Ellie goes through life and many relationships, she can count on one person to always be there through it all…Jane. Ellie dreams of one day finding her Mr. Right. Though even the reigning queen of romance has a thing or two to learn about love.
I absolutely loved According to Jane. Marilyn Brant out did herself with this debut novel. I read this book in only a matter of a few hours. Ellie and Jane had me spellbound. I kept finding myself smiling and laughing. Forget the Jane Austen you know…this Jane is hip, fresh and sassy. She says it like it is. It was great to see Ellie blossom from a young girl into a beautiful woman. Fans of Jane Austen will fall for Ellie in According to Jane. According to Jane is a pleasure read and it belongs on everyone’s shelf.
mfumarolo's review against another edition
5.0
Part of me really thinks that Brant's novel is actually a look into my future. The similarities between her book and my life are almost eery, but I couldn't put it down, nor could my friend who I gave a copy of this to for her birthday. I love Jane Austen, so that's immediately what sucked me in.
And then there was more. The protagonist Ellie studied English in college (like me) and then went to graduate school at a university a few hours south of Chicago so she could study to be a librarian (also me). After that she gets a job at her old high school library (ME!). There were actual goosebumps on the back of my neck.
But even if you take away my odd connections to the character, you still have a fantastic story. Brant perfectly captures the insecurities that come along with high school and how just because you get older doesn't mean they go away. I occassionally got annoyed with Jane, but I think that was kind of the point - readers need her less as Ellie needs her less, too. It's hard to really say much without giving away spoilers, so I'll just leave it at this book was a random bookstore find and I completely fell in love. Any Austen-head probably will, too.
And then there was more. The protagonist Ellie studied English in college (like me) and then went to graduate school at a university a few hours south of Chicago so she could study to be a librarian (also me). After that she gets a job at her old high school library (ME!). There were actual goosebumps on the back of my neck.
But even if you take away my odd connections to the character, you still have a fantastic story. Brant perfectly captures the insecurities that come along with high school and how just because you get older doesn't mean they go away. I occassionally got annoyed with Jane, but I think that was kind of the point - readers need her less as Ellie needs her less, too. It's hard to really say much without giving away spoilers, so I'll just leave it at this book was a random bookstore find and I completely fell in love. Any Austen-head probably will, too.
emilymorgan02's review against another edition
2.0
I'm on a Jane Austen kick at the moment and I found this at the thrift store...I found the main character to not be very well written and it mostly seemed like a laundry list of all the men she'd slept with and how she just couldn't seem to find the man of her dreams. With that being said, the girl was sweet and the story line was interesting...just not quite Austen...
gaderianne's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book while perusing the Kindle store and downloaded to read. I was surprised by its substance. However, I wasn't at all pulled into the story and it took me a little while to get through. (I often times felt that the voice of Jane that was in the main character's head was too stuffy and prudish to really be Jane Austen.)
laden_bookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Chock full of meh.
I'm assuming this was published during the everything-Jane-Austen-before-Zombies phase but JEEZ. The idea of having Jane Austen in your head and INTERACTING with her is annoying as a plot device and irrelevant on SO MANY social levels.
Beyond that, the mantra of the heroine for the ENTIRE BOOK was I WANT TO GET MARRIED. *gag* Between that and the high school flashbacks, you should know that I skimmed (read: flicked past on my Kindle until I stopped seeing Jane Austen italics) about 2/3 of the book.
I'm assuming this was published during the everything-Jane-Austen-before-Zombies phase but JEEZ. The idea of having Jane Austen in your head and INTERACTING with her is annoying as a plot device and irrelevant on SO MANY social levels.
Beyond that, the mantra of the heroine for the ENTIRE BOOK was I WANT TO GET MARRIED. *gag* Between that and the high school flashbacks, you should know that I skimmed (read: flicked past on my Kindle until I stopped seeing Jane Austen italics) about 2/3 of the book.
soniakarina's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of a girl who forms an unusual relationship with Jane Austen while in high school, and maintains that "relationship" throughout her life, as she experiences the ups and downs (and all arounds) of love, heartbreak, family, friendship and life.
Well written, witty, funny, and at times raw, realistic and real.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Well written, witty, funny, and at times raw, realistic and real.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
tiff_reads_plenty's review against another edition
1.0
Great premise, I loved that Jane Austen was speaking to someone in the present day and guiding her. But I felt like the follow-through on the idea didn't meet my expectations.