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If I Were You
Joan Aiken's last Nineteenth century romance is dedicated: "To all Female Writers, past and present" and tells the story of two identical but unrelated schoolfriends finishing the education at the Abbey school, Reading, which Jane Austen attended with her sister, Cassandra. This is not an Austen sequel, but tells the story of Alvey, one of the two girls, who agrees to impersonate the other in order to find herself a refuge where she can complete the novel she has always wanted to write. The Deception proves all too easy, as the family she meets are in desperate need of her help. With the conspiratorial assistance of Louisa's elder sisters, Alvey becomes a member of the troubled Winship family in a rambling Northumberland household.
After many complexities and entanglements, she wins their affections to such an extent that as the deception gradually unravels, Alvey is begged by the family to stay on, to the shock of the returning Louisa. Aiken vividly evokes the ambiance of the great country house of the Regency period in a part of the English countryside she knew well from childhood visits.
After many complexities and entanglements, she wins their affections to such an extent that as the deception gradually unravels, Alvey is begged by the family to stay on, to the shock of the returning Louisa. Aiken vividly evokes the ambiance of the great country house of the Regency period in a part of the English countryside she knew well from childhood visits.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
10 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Joan Aiken
331 books601 followersJoan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 7, 2017
As they prepare to leave their English boarding school, Louisa Winship has a dangerous proposal for orphaned Alvey Clement: they look so much alike they could be twins, so why doesn't Alvey return to Louisa's home and family, posing as Louisa and freeing her to pursue a forbidden life as a missionary in India? Alvey is intrigued despite herself and accepts, taking her place within Louisa's family. As she struggles not to reveal her identity, warm-hearted Alvey is drawn deeper into the family's troubles. Oh, and did I mention Alvey wants to be a novelist and is working on a book called _Wicked Lord Love_? Just knowing that would have made me want to read this, but the impostor plot really made it a must-read, and I wasn't disappointed: it's richly characterized, has a lovely sense of place, and is utterly delightful.
April 12, 2017
Joan Aiken's writing so far hasn't disappointed me. Granted this story had a slow start, but then it was off to the races.
The story is a bit of a crossover of Regency and Gothic genres. And yes one of the main characters is into Byron's writing.
Try and find a copy and give it a go.
The story is a bit of a crossover of Regency and Gothic genres. And yes one of the main characters is into Byron's writing.
Try and find a copy and give it a go.
May 8, 2017
one of my comfort books, i re read this every few years.
June 28, 2021
I count myself very happy to have discovered two 20th century writers in the past 6 month whose writing suits me so well. They are Diana Wynne Jones and Joan Aiken. I’m surprised that the work of these two prolific authors passed me by for so long. Even better, I’ve discovered these authors and been able to immediately share the enjoyment with my children. Aiken’s THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE was our latest family read aloud, and every chapter was enthusiastically devoured by my children ages 6-12. DECEPTION is the first adult novel I’ve read by Aiken, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. It was not as perfect a creation as WOLVES, but it was very enjoyable.
DECEPTION is a light, fast-paced entry in the “doubles” literary sub genre also occupied by Mary Stewart’s THE IVY TREE, Du Maurier’s THE SCAPEGOAT, and Josephine Tey’s BRAT FARRAR. There’s something tantalising about being able to slip into someone else’s life and family undetected, and since I find this trope intriguing, I enjoyed Aiken’s take on it. There are a LOT of ideas packed into this novel, perhaps too many by the end, but I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. Perhaps one experiences this story a little like Alvey does - finding her place in a large and complex family, in a big house in the remote north of England. I wondered sometimes if Aiken couldn’t quite make up her mind between writing a gothic novel or a Georgette Heyer Regency comedy of manners, but since both of those genres are congenial to me, this slight lack of focus didn’t spoil the novel for me.
DECEPTION is a light, fast-paced entry in the “doubles” literary sub genre also occupied by Mary Stewart’s THE IVY TREE, Du Maurier’s THE SCAPEGOAT, and Josephine Tey’s BRAT FARRAR. There’s something tantalising about being able to slip into someone else’s life and family undetected, and since I find this trope intriguing, I enjoyed Aiken’s take on it. There are a LOT of ideas packed into this novel, perhaps too many by the end, but I really enjoyed the characters and the setting. Perhaps one experiences this story a little like Alvey does - finding her place in a large and complex family, in a big house in the remote north of England. I wondered sometimes if Aiken couldn’t quite make up her mind between writing a gothic novel or a Georgette Heyer Regency comedy of manners, but since both of those genres are congenial to me, this slight lack of focus didn’t spoil the novel for me.
July 7, 2017
This was lent to me by a friend and pitched as "in the style of 'Anne of Green Gables' meets Jane Austen" which I found to be an incredibly accurate description.
February 22, 2022
Three and a half stars
Very readable with a palpable sense of place and time, this story is set in 1815-1816 in the north of England and is essentially a family drama.
Very readable with a palpable sense of place and time, this story is set in 1815-1816 in the north of England and is essentially a family drama.
March 23, 2019
I do so enjoy Joan Aiken's books and this was no exception - it's light, fun, full of entertaining characters and features a splendid country house. The setting close to my own neck of the woods was a plus too, some lovely descriptions of countryside I know (to the extent of even being able to guess at the house she must have had in mind for the parsonage) as well as some convincing descriptions of Newcastle in the 19th century. Yes, the initial plot is fairly implausible, but it's better done than one I read fairly recently with an almost identical starting point, and the period setting lends itself well here: in an era of limited communication (no photographs, let alone telephones or easy travel) the switch at the heart of the novel would have more chance of success. And anyway, once I'd read a chapter or so and liked Alvey, it didn't matter to me, I was going to let myself be led by the author anywhere she chose to go.
Of course nothing goes quite as planned for Alvey and that's all part of the pleasure of reading this book - how she will cope with possible setbacks and the threat of discovery, what she will do at the end of the period she's agreed to at the start...I found it very hard to put the book down, and whizzed through it in two days. It will, I know, join the pile of comfort books that I like to go back to.
Of course nothing goes quite as planned for Alvey and that's all part of the pleasure of reading this book - how she will cope with possible setbacks and the threat of discovery, what she will do at the end of the period she's agreed to at the start...I found it very hard to put the book down, and whizzed through it in two days. It will, I know, join the pile of comfort books that I like to go back to.
January 3, 2023
My first by this wonderful author. How do these authors elude me for so long! Great story, lovely writing, unorthodox plot lines and trajectories. Loved Alvey as a character. Delightful and recommended. Off to find more books by Joan Aiken!
April 7, 2020
Fabulous
A lovely book of family, confusion, love and loss. Well worth reading. I only wish I too could have stayed at Birkland for ever.
A lovely book of family, confusion, love and loss. Well worth reading. I only wish I too could have stayed at Birkland for ever.
June 7, 2020
I have read with great enjoyment the strange and absorbing books by Joan Aiken ever since coming across her "Wolves of Willouby Chase" and other books detailing the adventures of Dido and friends. Her unique books are part history, part science fiction, part thrillers.
This book, a calmer tale, details what happens when one young woman persuades her look-alike classmate to take her place at home after four years at school, leaving her free to set off for missionary adventures in India. Strangely, this is the story of the imposter who settles in Scotland, and finds herself part of a family and a home for the first time in her life. Because it's Joan Aiken, there is hardship and tragedy aplenty, as well as wonderful, true-to-life characters.
An unusual yet enjoyable read.
This book, a calmer tale, details what happens when one young woman persuades her look-alike classmate to take her place at home after four years at school, leaving her free to set off for missionary adventures in India. Strangely, this is the story of the imposter who settles in Scotland, and finds herself part of a family and a home for the first time in her life. Because it's Joan Aiken, there is hardship and tragedy aplenty, as well as wonderful, true-to-life characters.
An unusual yet enjoyable read.
April 20, 2023
Turns out Joan Aiken has any number of quirky, misanthropic novels for adults that have nothing to do with her Jane Austen continuations, which I haven't read because I have deeply complicated feelings about pastiche.
This is one of her kinder ones and has much to recommend it, including a delightful Northumbrian setting and a pair of adorably feral children.
Amazon recommends it for fans of Bridgerton. (I have neither watched nor read Bridgerton, see above). A good marketing ploy and I'm all for raising Aiken's profile with modern readers who've only encountered her widely-known works. That said, I can easily imagine diehard romance readers getting to the end of this and chucking it across the room in disgust.
This is one of her kinder ones and has much to recommend it, including a delightful Northumbrian setting and a pair of adorably feral children.
Amazon recommends it for fans of Bridgerton. (I have neither watched nor read Bridgerton, see above). A good marketing ploy and I'm all for raising Aiken's profile with modern readers who've only encountered her widely-known works. That said, I can easily imagine diehard romance readers getting to the end of this and chucking it across the room in disgust.
January 17, 2025
This was recommended to me by a friend and it was very hard to find a copy, but I'm so glad I finally tracked it down. It's a very satisfying Gothic historical novel, a deep and sensitive family portrait of flawed people, with a little action and not too much romance. Not falling into the typical romance tropes is one of the things I like best about Aiken's novels.
June 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this wry and clever version of a Regency tale. Great characterisation and attention to life in rural Northern England, this book veers away from the traditional marriage as fulfillment route into a much fresher and more modern ending.
July 21, 2025
Interesting commentary on the way different people can bring out the positive or negative aspects of other people’s character. The ending was a tad bit too open-ended for my taste, but it definitely felt very Joan Aiken-ish, so I can’t complain too much. 😄
June 6, 2021
Ich mag diese Art der englischen Romane. Man taucht in eine vergangene Welt ein und es ist auch gut, dass sie vergangen ist. Mit Gleichberechtigung hat dies garnichts zu tun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2025
Well this is going to become a comfort reread. It’s such wish-fulfillment fantasy catnip to me.
August 29, 2020
3.5 stars
Being the book lover that I am I was of course friends with my school librarians. When they would weed their books they'd invite me to take whatever I'd want from the boxes. This was one of those books. I really enjoyed. I kind of hoped for different relationship developments as I was reading, but I was really happy with how it turned out. I ended up keeping the book on my shelf because I could see myself reading it again. The writing was very well done and I really enjoyed the story and the characters.
Being the book lover that I am I was of course friends with my school librarians. When they would weed their books they'd invite me to take whatever I'd want from the boxes. This was one of those books. I really enjoyed. I kind of hoped for different relationship developments as I was reading, but I was really happy with how it turned out. I ended up keeping the book on my shelf because I could see myself reading it again. The writing was very well done and I really enjoyed the story and the characters.
October 17, 2015
For some reason I was expecting something Heyer-esque. Something romantic and fun.
Instead, four people die during the course of the book. One's a suicide. One's a murder. One's due to old age, and the last is due to extended illness and/or a hereditary condition (I don't know whether the condition weakens the immune system). People become maimed and suffer strokes. Once I'd become aware of the dark nature of this novel, I spent a good portion of it expecting the odious Mr. Thropton to sexually assault someone.
That, happily, did not come to pass. But, oh! The way women are regarded is absolutely chilling! Lady Winship suffered through fourteen awful pregnancies (she feels terribly ill when she is increasing), her husband must know how awful she feels, have some inkling of the dread with which she looks upon the whole process, and yet he kept climbing into her bed and impregnating her anyway. Because the woman is subservient to her man and has no ownership of her body.
Speaking of! Alvey and Isa joke about Mr. Thropton's wife dying due to neglect and mistreatment. Haha, she was such a dutiful wife that when he refused to provide her with food and fire she just sat there until she died! And now he's in the market for a new one! How droll.
And Guy! What a spectacular Face Heel Turn that was!
Most of the book is not like this--I wouldn't want to give the impression that it's unrelentingly horrible. But that's...sort of the point. I would expect there to be a bit more gravity, but all of this stuff is (pretty much) treated like it's normal.
Instead, four people die during the course of the book. One's a suicide. One's a murder. One's due to old age, and the last is due to extended illness and/or a hereditary condition (I don't know whether the condition weakens the immune system). People become maimed and suffer strokes. Once I'd become aware of the dark nature of this novel, I spent a good portion of it expecting the odious Mr. Thropton to sexually assault someone.
That, happily, did not come to pass. But, oh! The way women are regarded is absolutely chilling! Lady Winship suffered through fourteen awful pregnancies (she feels terribly ill when she is increasing), her husband must know how awful she feels, have some inkling of the dread with which she looks upon the whole process, and yet he kept climbing into her bed and impregnating her anyway. Because the woman is subservient to her man and has no ownership of her body.
Speaking of! Alvey and Isa joke about Mr. Thropton's wife dying due to neglect and mistreatment. Haha, she was such a dutiful wife that when he refused to provide her with food and fire she just sat there until she died! And now he's in the market for a new one! How droll.
And Guy! What a spectacular Face Heel Turn that was!
Most of the book is not like this--I wouldn't want to give the impression that it's unrelentingly horrible. But that's...sort of the point. I would expect there to be a bit more gravity, but all of this stuff is (pretty much) treated like it's normal.
September 20, 2013
I bought a copy of this after reading a glowing review from another Goodreads member (I'll try to figure out who). I assumed it would be a book suited to one of my teen daughters - more of a young adult/tween kind of book (not that that is a bad thing).
Well, I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Good writing, interesting plot, likeable heroine - this story almost had it all. I say it almost had it all because
Good read, clean.
Well, I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Good writing, interesting plot, likeable heroine - this story almost had it all. I say it almost had it all because
Good read, clean.
June 23, 2010
What a delightful romp ! This novel started off as a conventional Regency novel - you know, young lady lands herself in remote country house with a couple of young men in the offing - one a wounded veteran of Waterloo with aquiline blonde good looks and the other his intelligent companion in arms who is interested in psychiatry about a 100 years before Freud. There is a cranky Grandmother, a morose father, a mother who is an obsessive gardener, a thick-legged teenage daughter, a couple of enchanting children and the usual warm-hearted servants who are always making yummy things to eat. As you can gather, this is already not your usual Regency romance.
I don't want to give away the ending, but suffice it to say that Joan Aiken manages to mix Jane Austen, the Brontes and Germaine Greer all up together and it was great fun. Not a strenuous read - just plain fun and enjoyable.
I don't want to give away the ending, but suffice it to say that Joan Aiken manages to mix Jane Austen, the Brontes and Germaine Greer all up together and it was great fun. Not a strenuous read - just plain fun and enjoyable.
June 27, 2011
The exchange of places between two school girls takes place so one can achieve her missionary goal of telling the heathens how wrong they are while the other seeks a quiet place to write her novel. The story follows Alvey north to Louisa's home near Hadrian's wall. There she finds the family readying for the eldest daughters marriage and the imminent return of the eldest son following Napoleon's defeat.
This novel has more of the feel of a multigenerational family saga than a regency comedy because the major plot thrust is psychological; how people deal with trauma, stress, and chronic pain in themselves and in family members.
This novel has more of the feel of a multigenerational family saga than a regency comedy because the major plot thrust is psychological; how people deal with trauma, stress, and chronic pain in themselves and in family members.
June 20, 2016
I love Aiken's writing style. The book presented an interesting premise and the language and writing are witty and delightful. But I found the character development to be disappointing, especially the drastic change in personality and behavior of certain persons. And then, the ending! WHAT a disappointment. The entire book builds toward the crisis of what Alvey will do when her masquerade ends and then...we're not told! So sorry to give a favorite author a 2 star review, but there it is.
June 15, 2013
I really do love Joan Aiken's books each one has such a unique and different story. At first I thought this was going to be just like the Disney classic "The Parent Trap". But it is not, it is an interesting tale with interesting characters and a different twist on look-alikes. Easy to read and entertaining.
July 22, 2008
A flawed book, yet totally lovable. In the early 19th century, doppelgängers secretly change places and writer Alvey goes to live with obnoxious Louisa's noble family in Northumberland. I became so attached to the characters and setting that I didn't want the book to end.
January 13, 2009
About two girls in Regency England who meet at an English boarding school and discover how much they look alike. They decide to trade places for a year, and when the truth comes out, the one girl is begged to stay on, to the displeasure of her "twin."
June 9, 2009
A good quick read, rather predictable but fun to read nonetheless.
August 2, 2015
Regency anti-romance inspired by Brat Farrar.
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May 7, 2013What a fun little romp.
March 18, 2016
Eines meiner Lieblingsbücher von Joan Aiken, meiner Lieblingsautorin!
March 9, 2016
A really lovely read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews