I didn’t give it a four because I didn’t feel it was a retelling but more so a good story using elements of a great story. While I understand this to be a contemporary retelling, some stories are not meant to be brought into a contemporary setting and can lose luster by uber fans of the originals. I decided to restart the story after 7 chapters and remove Jane Eyre from my thinking all together. If I didn’t, this would have been 2 stars.

That said, I enjoyed this story. It was a story I did not want to put down. There were a few plot twist, some I should have known were coming and some I absolutely had no clue would take place. I could have done without all the F bombs and wish authors would understand an F bomb doesn’t make you an adult writer.

After discussing the book with friends I wanted to look at what could cast similarities between stories. I look back at the literature study I did back in my forst round of college.

To me, Jane is two totally different people in each story. The only similarity being the name and having a rough upbringing. I find the original Jane much stronger.

I don’t feel John is represented in the same way and is just a way to smug the Christian view as a lot of books are doing now a days. I do think the original St John is a little grimy and off, not as saint like as many try to make the would be missionary out to be. In this “retelling”, John is made to be thought of someone who would harm or sexually advance on Jane without her permission when in the original, St John’s morals would not allow him to do such things. This all said, the character could surround the grimy cousin John Reed, in which suit would fit the grim he portrayed towards a young Jane. But it feels like they are trying to mix the two.

Making Adele a dog made me laugh ...

As you can see, I am a fan of the original much more than the new story but enjoyed The Wife Upstairs enough to keep it on my shelves and reread it at some point.