So I watched the film adaptation of this book a few years back, not realizing that it was a book first. I kind of wish I’d never realized it. The movie wasn’t great. In fact, it wasn’t even good. But it was kind of fun and silly and I wasn’t mad that I spent an hour and a half of my life watching it. I can’t really say the same about the book. I just did not like it.

What I liked:

1. The concept. I would sign up for something like Austenland in a heartbeat.

2. The length. It was just around 300 pages. If it’d been longer I don’t think I could’ve finished it.


What I didn’t like:

1. Jane. Really, it all comes down to Jane for me. I feel like if you like her character, you’re going to like this book. Unfortunately, I found her headspace a terrible place to be stuck for the 3 hours it took me to read this. She is whiny, indecisive, and neurotic. I hate the fact that she feels so much shame for loving Jane Austen and specifically P&P. She actually hides the DVD set of the BBC Pride & Prejudice in a planter in her home. It felt like the author was trying to say that it was something to be embarrassed about and that really rubbed me the wrong way.

Also, she has no agency whatsoever. Nothing is ever her fault. Before each chapter is a paragraph or two regarding Jane’s past ‘relationships’. I put that word in quotes because Jane’s definition of relationship is very broad. A guy she talked to by the mailbox could be a relationship in her mind.
Anyway, the paragraph will explain how they broke up. And it’s never something she takes any responsibility for. Even if she actually INITIATES THE BREAK UP.

Jane: I think we should break up.

Guy: Yeah, okay

Jane (thinking): Way to fight for me.

(This is not verbatim, because the book is across the room and I don’t feel that it deserves any more of my energy.)

She even ends one relationship because a guy snorted one time when he laughed...one time...and she thought: Mr. Darcy would never snort when he laughs.

😑😑😑😑

Honestly, she is insufferable. I think the reason the movie didn’t bother me as much (even though it wasn’t good) is that we weren’t stuck in her head listening to all her thoughts. But even though this is told in third person, we exclusively follow Jane’s POV, and she is annoying AF.

2. The ‘romance’. For a book that is using love of Jane Austen as a catalyst for its narrative, the romance in this book is severely lacking. I actually felt like the romantic interests (because of course there are two) deserve better than Jane.

I know this book was written quite a few years ago, and I’m sure many love it. I wish I loved it too. Unfortunately, this one did nothing positive for me whatsoever.

But I still want to go to Austenland.