Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend

Jane Austen #2

by Cora Harrison

Based on real events, meet the teenage Jane Austen in these irresistible tales of dashing young men, glorious gowns and first love. Jenny Cooper has found her hero, thanks to her cousin Jane Austen (who considers herself and expert in affairs of the heart). Now it’s Jane’s Turn to fall in love, and there are plenty of dances, romours, scandals and eligible gentlemen to entertain two teenage girls in search of adventure. But a good reputation, once lost, is gone forever - and Jane is in danger of becoming the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Regency

346 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2011

About the author

Cora Harrison worked as a headteacher before she decided to write her first novel. She has since published twenty-six children's novels. My Lady Judge was her first book in a Celtic historical crime series for adults that introduces Mara, Brehon of the Burren. Cora lives on a farm near the Burren in the west of Ireland.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh how bitterly tragic it is that i cannot marry the Captain

Let's whine about it for 300 pages

and prance around in dress shops in Bath.

[sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It truly lives up to its reputation as the greatest piece of literature ever written. Jane Austen would be so proud to have been even featured in such a prestigious novel. There was humour and romance and drama and honestly why hasn't this won the Nobel prize yet because it really deserves it.

The predictable romances? Splendid.
The spelling mistakes? Glorious.
The plot twists resolved in one page? Riveting.
The way everything and nothing happened over the course of 300 pages was truly a feat and I hope one day to be able to reach the same level of writing.

Five stars for originality and the title.

[Monica. A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I pizzini di Jane Austen

Fate un doppio nodo ai fiocchi dei vostri cappellini... si parte per un avventuroso viaggio nella Bath di Jane Austen!
Niente impegno, solo innocenti svaghi, balli, sane passeggiate, tè e pasticcini. Protagoniste del libro sono solo due sciocche ragazze che nulla vedono all'infuori dei nastrini, della mussola, degli uomini da corteggiare e delle persone da sbeffeggiare. La Jane Austen di questo libro è un surrogato di Catherine Morland, Lydia e Kitty Bennet. Jenny, la sua fantomatica cugina, è la più assennata delle due, Jane è invece leggiadra e futile, sciocca quanto basta, una vera ammaliatrice perennemente sul punto di perdere la reputazione e tanto orgogliosa della sua futura carriera di scrittrice da dispensare missive ricche di osservazioni e spunti creativi, piccole opere letterarie che la cugina conserva gelosamente nel suo diario.
I contenuti sono pochi, i dialoghi un po' inverosimili per appartenere a Jane Austen, eppure la lettura è, nonostante tutto, molto carina.
È forse la migliore fra le Jane Austen inventate in cui mi sia imbattuta, sicuramente molto meglio di quell'acida zitella bacchettona creata dalla Barron.
Terminato il libro ci si sente un po' stordite, come uscite da un lungo scontro fra le pettegole del villaggio, ebbre di chiacchiere inutili e leggermente scombussolate dalla contemporanea presenza di personaggi reali che ne incontrano di inventati ma dai nomi noti, eppure comunque soddisfatte per aver dato libero sfogo a quel che, sotto sotto piace a tutte, fare del sano pettegolezzo che allieta le giornate e fa tanto bene all'umore!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having fallen in love with I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend, I was eager to read this sequel. Although I found it a little slow going at first, as I got further in the book I found myself enjoying it as much as the first one. As to which is better, I couldn't decide, they both go hand in hand as a fabulous read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on: http://rebecca-books.blogspot.co.uk/2...

Although this is the second book by Cora Harrison based on the diary of Jenny Cooper, a close cousin to Jane Austen, I think it could be read independently without the first novel, I was Jane Austen's Best Friend.
I bought and read the first book on a bit of a whim - wanting an easy read. Nothing too tough. But actually really enjoyed it! So I got the second book...and have only just got around to reading it.
Since acquiring this novel, I have also read the first book in Cora Harrison's new series named Debutantes (my review), which I would also recommend!
Cora Harrison has to be one of my favourite historical fiction writers as well as Anna Godbersen and Mary Hooper among MANY so I was quite pleased to be starting this book and finally finding out the ending to Jenny's story.

Synopsis: The effects of Jenny Cooper met, fell in love and was then proposed to by the lovely Captain Thomas Williams are both joyful and threatening to their future happiness with a number of obstacles between their love becoming official in marriage. Meanwhile, Jane Austen - Jenny's cousin and closest friend - has her own ideas to find romance. Jane's wild imagination is looking for a dashing, handsome and brave young man - but the males of Steventon don't particular match that fantasy. Soon, Jenny and Jane go to Bath to visit their aunt and uncle and are shown a world of romance, dancing and elegance as well as a few scandals along the way. Soon Jane has a number of admirers wanting her attention and is at risk of being the talk of the town for the wrong reasons...

Review: I have to admit that I constantly cringe whenever I type/write/say the title of this book - it's jokey, yes, but if I had not sampled Cora Harrison's novels before, this would not be a to-read for me.
This is the perfect book for those that are big Jane Austen fans like myself. Although I've only read Pride and Prejudice, I love the plot, the manners and the elegance of her time and also just Jane Austen herself too. This is also the perfect read for those fans to sit on a rainy afternoon in bed with chocolate and coffee and just enjoy the afternoon. Because of the simplicity of this novel, I loved reading it late at night or very early in the morning - it was easy to engross yourself in and to understand.

The story is told from Jenny's point of view. As Harrison says in the Author's Note at the back (which is so interesting to have a read of what is true or not), Jenny's real name was Jane but changed for the purposes of having another Jane in the story. I've always loved Jenny - she's very lovely, gentle and kind yet quite strong-headed and understands what is happening around her. Unlike sometimes young girls of the time are portrayed, neither Jane nor Jenny I found extremely silly and I felt very attached to their future happiness throughout the novel. Jenny at the beginning of the book is engaged to a naval officer Thomas - another rather lovely character. However, they are refused permission by her brother due to his wife's jealousy for the match. Thomas is vacant for the majority of the book as he goes on a trip with his crew. I loved seeing the genuine sadness from Jenny at his leaving - it just made it lovely to read.

What I absolutely loved about this book (and the series) is the references to Jane Austen's literature. There are quotes that Jane gives to Jenny to put in her diary that after a quick Google, I realised are from Jane Austen novels. The characters and plot have a certain Jane Austen-esque to them. Jane Austen reminded me so much of Elizabeth Bennet and Thomas as Mr Darcy which for a big Jane Austen fan like myself, it's lovely to see the thought put into the novel through this references.

The plot of the book is never boring, with a number of sub-plots happening that keep you as a reader guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the structure of the novel as a diary written by Jenny that really allowed me to get to know her character once again and sympathise with her. The writing is very informal and not at all like the Regency language we associate with Jane Austen, but I liked this aspect of it - it makes this an easier more enjoyable read.
I loved the simplicity of this novel, the modern language, the understandable plot and the lovely unique characters. This novel may should very modern but the key aspects of the 1700s are still present - the etiquette the clothes, the manners, the dancing - all written clearly and in a way that made it so easy to imagine.

Despite the isolated moments where I had to cringe (starting with the title), I think this novel is best for those that want an easy read for whatever reason that may be. This was perfect to read late at night and very early in the morning when I didn't want to read anything too heavy. I loved the characters, the plot and the writing that made this an overall great read that has cemented Cora Harrison as one of my favourite authors.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend is a charming historical tale which tells the story of Jenny Cooper – who was very possibly Jane’s best friend. This novel follows on from the romantic endeavours of I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend. I recommend you read the books in the correct order so that you can fully appreciate the sheer delights of this imagining of Jane’s life. This review has spoilers for the first book. So be warned...


Jenny and Jane are very excited at the beginning of the novel. The handsome and gallant Captain Thomas Williams has proposed marriage and Jenny has accepted. But this would not be a truly romantic story if the tale ended there. A true story of love must involve many obstacles. The hero and the heroine must conquer all the trials in order to be rewarded with love.


Jenny’s brother, Edward-John, is a stuffy and weak-spined man. He is far too influenced by his wife Augusta (what a perfect name for a hideous old witch) and she encourages him to prevent the engagement. As her legal guardian, Edward-John has the final say over who may marry young Jenny. Heartbreak and much sobbing ensue but of course the wonderful Captain Williams does not take no for an answer. Let’s hear a young for the naval hero!


This story is told through Jenny’s journal. Her jotting about entertaining conversations, events and Jane’s stories move the plot along. There are also the letters she exchanges with her beaux. But perhaps this is a little more Jane’s story than Jenny’s. We know that Jenny has found an eligible man who will make his fortune. The same cannot be said of Jane. She, as one might imagine, is a flighty and rather intoxicating girl to be around. Men are mesmerised by her charms and sharp tongue which means Jane becomes the object of many single young ladies’ hatred. Jane lives more inside her fantastical musings about the people around her than actually in her own real life. She doesn’t know the true yearnings of her own heart. So does she steal the object of another young lady’s affection? You’ll have to read the book to find out. In truth this is Jane’s journey to find what love is and not what a young romantic novelist might dream it to be. Heroism and chivalry can come in many guises!


This novel takes place in Bath. I loved Harrison’s description of the Royal Crescent, the Pump House and the luxurious shops. It makes me want to revisit bath and especially the Ball Rooms. This story was full of finely researched details. It lavishly portrays the life of the wealthy and their fine attire. I suddenly desire to have a dress made from scratch. Does anyone else ever feel that we have lost some of the beauty of our cultural heritage when we can just buy factory-made clothes?


Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend is the sort of book that should be read in a huge bubble bath with copious amounts of handmade chocolate. It is sheer indulgence. It sweet and entertaining but it is also compelling. I read it in one sitting. I just had to know how it ended. Romantic, endearing and timeless, this book will be enjoyed by giggly girls for years to come. This is series is now a firm favourite of mine.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general I absolutely love Cora Harrison's historical fictions but when rereading this one, I found it fell a little flat. I still liked it though, so I only dropped it down to 4 stars (not really a massive deal, I admit! But I have rated her others as fives)

This book was what introduced me to Cora Harrison a couple of years ago and at the time I adored it! I have since read the two Debutantes books and I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend. However, rereading this just now I had a few issues, mainly with the main character, Jenny. She was a nice person: kind, fun, a little reserved. Nice and neutral for a narrator, I suppose. She just wasn't that exciting and was even shallow at times. All she really, truly cared about was Thomas, and their love seemed to be unconditional to the extent of being unrealistic. I mean, Thomas is lovely, but what could he possibly to see in Jenny? They barely spoke to each other about anything other than how much they loved each other. Seeing as this was the central aspect of the novel, it ruined the rest of the book a bit.

However, I really enjoyed the character of the young Jane Austen. She's just how I imagine the original - funny, flirty and always so much sharper than everyone else in the room. Other enjoyable characters were Eliza, Harry Digweed and Mrs Austen. I liked the 'villians' of this tale too - Phylly and Augusta. I think Augusta was a really interesting character and I think the concept of her being too controlling of Edward-John was a good problem and it was overcome amusingly with the help of Eliza! (I would have liked Eliza to have been in every scene, to be honest).

The historical aspect was handled really well and I got a good sense of the time - basically my favourite era of history! So that was fun. All in all, this book was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to Austen fans. However, the two-dimensional-ness of the main character and her romance takes away a bit of the sparkle that otherwise would have put this book firmly on my favourites list!

[PrettyFlamingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a complete delight! I hadn’t realised it was aimed at the YA market, but I enjoyed it so much. When I was the age of Jane and Jenny in the book, I kept a journal and wrote about the nights out I had, the boys I met etc, and it just goes to show that nothing changes, not really, through time. Although I wouldn’t have been looking for a marriage proposal at 17!

Jane and Jenny are cousins, and Jenny’s journal charts their experiences going to dances and balls in 1791. She talks about the Assembly Rooms, the clothes they wear, the excitement of getting ready to go out, the guys they meet, oh, and of course, the requisite Mean Girls. Jenny is in love with Captain Thomas Williams but her brother, who is her guardian, tries to prevent the match going ahead and refuses permission for them to marry. Of course, there is a happy ending, but there is a lot of teenage angst and sobbing into hankies before that happens, which is so much fun to read about. Even though it is her journal, Jenny really exists in the book in relation to Jane, who almost becomes the focal character. We get to know her nature well; she is forever observing social situations and squirrels these away which will eventually become food for thought for her novels. Jane is very popular with young men, although the title is somewhat misleading; she doesn’t steal Jenny’s, or anyone else’s, boyfriend but her sparkling personality and prettiness does invariably draw male attention and consequently the envy of the Mean Girls, Caroline and Lavinia. Jenny has met the man of her dreams, but Jane hasn’t settled down and is free to plot, be mischievous and observe. It’s also based on real events and people, which adds an extra layer of interest. I wish the characters hadn’t gone about saying “La” all the time, though. Did they really say that? I’ve never come across it before in period novels. It was rather distracting.

I loved reading about the venues in Bath. It has inspired me to go there in the spring and visit the Pump Rooms, Assembly Hall, Royal Crescent and the other venues mentioned in the book. Reading this also made me relive my own teenage years and the experiences I had, which were not dissimilar. An absolutely lovely read, and not just for young adults.

4.5.

[Jade Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there is anything that I have learnt from this book, it's that I'm glad that I don't like in the eighteenth century. All that stuffy dancing and dressing and having to behave in a certain way and having to have permission to marry. Many may think it was glamorous, I think it was stuffy and silly. That being said, I love reading historical books around this time period and this is definitely one of the happier and nicer book series set around it.


I loved the first book in this series, I really like the out there character of Jane, and in this book she get's into all sorts of trouble but I also really loved Jenny. Captain Williams was romantic as ever but I had to keep reminding myself that it was the eighteenth century because it kept creeping me out that he was twice as old as Jenny... still, I was rooting for their relationship to work and I loved the happy ending. I hope there is a third book because i'd like to see more of Jenny and Thomas as well as see whether Jane and Harry work out.


The pacing was great, despite the fact that neither of the books are edge of seat reading, both have something that keep you reading, in this one it was the development of Jane and Harry's relationship and the will-they-won't-they around Jenny and Thomas's marriage. There was a part near the end where I was almost crying because it's pretty sad, but most of it is pretty happy and fun.


Overall, a good addition to the series. it was fun, it was romantic and it was dramatic and I loved laying in the sun and reading it.


Overall Rating: B

[Maharet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essere innamorati è come stare seduti davati a un fuoco divampante,bevendo vino caldo e speziato con la consapevolezza che sta per capitare qualcosa di molto eccitante


E' un ballo che ho danzato mille volte,ma ora è diverso.Io e Thomas ci sfioriamo le mani,ci allontaniamo,torniamo vicini,scambiando una parola,uno sguardo...E ogni volta che ci separiamo mi sembra quasi di aver perso una parte di me stessa,qualcosa di determinante per la mia vita e la mia felicità.E quando ci riavviciniamo è come se due metà spezzate si siano riunite.

Un romanzo delizioso,romantico,dolce,con il sapore di altri tempi,un libro per chi adora Jane Austen,per chi non la conosce,per chi è una romanticona e vuole perdersi in storie d'amore complicate tra pizzi,balli e intrighi.Ero molto indecisa se leggerlo e invece è stato una piacevole sorpresa,ha saputo fondere parti biografiche con parti di fantasia con uno stile scorrevole,delicato...favolosa la descrizione di Jane,la sua indipendenza,l'ironia,l'arguzia di una giovane donna che continua a farci sognare ancora oggi.Consigliato!!

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"È sorprendente la velocità con la quale compone i suoi racconti. Scrivere le cose realmente accadute è molto diverso: basta ricordare e mettere nero su bianco le parti più interessanti;lei invece inventa tutto, eppure lo fa con una velocità strabiliante"

Un libro che mi ha fatto trascorrere delle ore molto piacevoli... Spero solo che la Newton Compton pubblichi anche l'altro libro di Cora Harrison, I was Jane Austen's best friend, in cui c'è l'antefatto della storia d'amore tra Jenny Cooper (la cugina di JA) e il suo amato capitano Thomas.
Ho adorato anche le illustrazioni, che hanno fornito un supporto speciale alla mia ricostruzione visiva della storia.
Qui la mia recensione:
http://www.sololibri.net/Come-Jane-Au...

[Aly Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love it because it is so varieted as it contains friendship, love and frivolity whereas some books that claim to be all three but arent. I didnt admire the main character (jenny) as a person as she is very helpless and has to rely on a male figure all the time unlike jane who is by far my favourite person in this book because she is humourous and cheery.She seems to always have to lift jennys self- pitying moods .A very enjoyable book though ! :)

[Erik Fazekas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krásne, jednoduché, romantické.
Síce pre mladšie ročníky, ale nikdy nie je na škodu, sem tam vypnúť od všetkých tých prekombinovaných a šialených tisíce stranových kníh a siahnuť po niečom úplne jednoduchom. Hej, je to taká úplne príjemná oddychovka. A mne padla vhod.
(P.S.: Už by bolo načase, aby som prečítal aj nejakú normálnu Jane Austenovú, nie len len toto o jej jinšských letech :) :) :) )

[Hiba Ashfaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Jane Austen stole my boyfriend, and I didn't think this book was too different from it's prequel - it was a disappointment. It was such a predictable book and idk I just didn't like it. I've read better books in my life, tbh. There were a few good parts (which is why I am giving this more than two stars) but overall, this book was a let-down. I wish I could rate this 2.5, but Goodreads doesn't allow that.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh...i expected more from this book maybe because the reviews sounded good or because Jane Austen was mentioned on the cover?

I don't see how it's young adult fiction though because I found the characters very childish especially Jenny she always relies on Jane to make her feel better while Jane has her own problems?

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

all I'm feeling right now is 'meh'. I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. it was just okay. I didn't even fully read the last 100 pages, I skimmed them, got the gist and out it down. I didn't feel compelled to know every little detail.

I can't wait to get back into reading a good ya dystopia novel :)

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book sitting on my bookshelf for ages, untouched.
Then I read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (and fell in love with her writing), so now I'm going full on with anything Jane Austen!
It was a very sweet book,and it had some laugh out loud moments.
I wouldn't complain if someone took me to Bath!!
I'm glad that I picked this book up :)

[LadyAileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se siete appassionate di Jane Austen e delle sue opere, non potete perdervi questo delizioso romanzo che vede protagoniste una giovanissima Jane Austen e la sua amica/cugina Jenny (il punto di vista è di quest'ultima).
La storia è sotto forma di diario con l'aggiunta di disegni, poesie, lettere e assaggi della scrittura di Jane Austen.
Il romanzo è ambientato a Bath (città tanto cara alla Austen) nel 1791 e a tal proposito l'autrice ha saputo davvero ricreare l'atmosfera di quel periodo e di quel luogo (dettagliate descrizioni ma che non appesantiscono la lettura). Inoltre, altro aspetto interessante è la nota finale in cui l'autrice indica quali parti del romanzo siano inventate e quali siano biografiche.
Ho apprezzato entrambe le ragazze protagoniste: Jane viene mostrata come una ragazza arguta, ironica, senza peli sulla lingua e civettuola mentre Jenny è dolce, gentile, tremendamente innamorata e timida.
Nella prima parte il ritmo è piuttosto lento per la mancanza d'azione ma la seconda diventa più movimentata e intrigante (non manca l'immancabile mistero da risolvere e il risvolto romantico).
Scorrevole, con una caratterizzazione dei personaggi interessante, leggero, divertente e romantico.
Un'occasione per immergersi nella società britannica di fine settecento tra balli eleganti, vestiti raffinati, avvenenti gentiluomini e amori giovanili.

[Lia Christo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Então. Eu tinha muitas expectativas quanto a esse livro, já que se trata de algo que envolve o universo de Jane Austen, autora que amo. Mas infelizmente minhas expectativas não foram atendidas. Achei o livro raso, enfadonho e muito aquém do que eu minimamente gostaria de ter encontrado nesta leitura. Foi bem difícil conseguir terminar essa leitura.


Then. I had a lot of expectations about this book, since it is something that involves the universe of Jane Austen, an author that I love. But unfortunately my expectations were not met. I found the book shallow, boring and far short of what I at least would have liked to have found in this reading. It was very difficult to finish this reading.

[Becca Housden · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was nice to read this book and know that all of the threads that had been left in the first book where resolved, however briefly. Overall though, it felt like there was too much being crammed in, and the plot kept flitting back and forth with the anonymous letters shoe-horned in at the end just to bring the plot back to the point of the book.
It seemed a little bit slapdash overall, partly because of the book and partly because of poor editing, with inconsistencies appearing within two sentences of each other in the book, as well as statements contradicting the first book.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy read, the characters and setting seemed genuine for this period and well written. I found the excerpts of writing from Jane had to read (font-wise) and didn’t add much to the story, I tended to skip those further into the story. I also found the title a bit misleading, I was expecting Jane to end up with Thomas according to the title, and was really glad the story didn’t follow the title. Overall a good, light and fluffy, entertaining and easy read.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was a child and I loved it. I read it again today, about 10 years later, and while I can understand why I loved it so much, it fell flat in many places.

As it is a diary, the characters all felt very 1 dimensional and there wasn't much character development, and the romance aspect didn't feel very fleshed out. But that's to be expected from a children's/YA book.

3 stars for these reasons.

[adri_booklover_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sama neviem, čo som od knihy očakávala, lebo anotáciu ani nejaké recenzie som nečítala. Zaujal ma hlavne názov.
Čakala som, že kniha bude z modernejšieho sveta. Chcem povedať, že kniha mi vôbec nesadla, nemám rada knihy "z minulosti".
Celkovo sa mi na knihe páčili len tie listy, ktoré si medzi sebou dotyční písali.
Je možné, že keby som bola mladšia, kniha by ma zaujala viac.

[Anna Smirnova · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars mostly for the end notes of the author. So sad about Jane maybe being in love with an “unsuitable” man and actually never getting married afterwards. Apart from that I liked the first book more. The description of the wedding was very touching and beautiful.

[ChlointheDark · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live Jane Austen, you will love this book! Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end because it tells you all the true things in the story.

[Rableen]

Amazing book, carry on from the first book I Was Jane Austens Best Friend

[Francesca Mavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direi che è uno dei libri da leggere sotto l' ombrellone, per le eterne romantiche, una alternativa leggera dopo svariati thriller/ gialli che leggo di solito. Molto carino, lettura scorrevole.

[Bronwyn Lok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at http://bronzelock619.blogspot.com/2016/01/jane-austen-stole-my-boyfriend-jane.html.

The title of this book is a bit misleading. Even though this book was written in Jenny Cooper's point-of-view, her cousin Jane Austen did not steal her boyfriend. Especially since she was the one that helped them get together in the first place. The title was even weirder since "boyfriend" is a modern word. Jane's humour and wit caught the attention of a lot of young men, many of which were high on other young girls' list of potential husbands. They started spreading rumours that Jane was a flirt. With all the gossip, it was a bit like the modern high school, with mean girls of the same age that like to gossip and make fun of people. What was different was that there were mean middle-aged ladies too that like to put people down. Jane had a relative Phylly that even went so far as to write to the young men that had paid attention to Jane to warn them against her. She had all the traits of a bitter spinster that was just jealous of everyone and enjoyed other people's sufferings. So when it came to socializing with the ladies, girls in that era had double the pressure. The ladies of that time were clearly less nurturing to young girls that were not their own.
Jane mostly did all of this to gather inspirations for her novels. She was a bit reckless in the execution and quite insensitive to the pain of others in the process, but she mostly just seem to be having fun. Unfortunately, having fun was a luxury for girls of that time. Like how Jane helped with Jenny's romantic relationship in the previous book, Jenny tried to return the favour by playing matchmaker for her. Jenny had noticed that Jane had feelings for the boy-next-door Harry before Jane even knew it himself, and had been flirting with a handful of other boys at the same time. Harry had a crush at Jane for quite some time, since before the start of the book. Through the book, Harry's personality gradually changed as his crush on Jane deepened. Before that, he was quite and followed every instruction by Jane to a T. As time went on, he became more decisive, capable of standing up to others and becoming the hero Jane dreamt of for her novels. We all know Jane Austen's romances did not end well, but at least we could revel in the new ending this author created for them, and hope that Jane and Harry actually do have a future.
Not only did this book give a romance for Jane, it is also a continuation of the romance between Jenny and Captain Thomas. In this book, Jane made a summary of Jenny and Captain Thomas' love story up till the start of this book, which fits exactly with the description of Pride and Prejudice . Jenny and Captain Thomas met and felt attraction, Jenny had a misunderstanding of him, he became the hero that saved her from a situation, then Jenny learned that he was blameless. After that, he offered marriage and she accepted. It was a really nice notion, that Jane Austen may have written her novels based on the love stories of those close to her.
However, it is not always happily-ever-after that follows a proposal. Jenny and Captain Thomas had a lot of obstacles to overcome before they could get married. Jenny's sister-in-law Augusta liked to see her miserable, and would also like to keep Jenny's fortune of fifty pounds a year to herself. Jenny's brother, Edward-John, was too timid to disagree with his wife. Captain Thomas' family also had problems with their marriage. His little sister and uncle, his closest living relations, did not like Jenny either. Jenny was basically penniless, and Captain Thomas' little sister Elinor was jealous of Jenny. However, with Jane's smart ideas, and Jenny's persistence and kindness, both sides finally agreed to the union, and finally resulting in a happy ending.
Other than the romances, the book was also peppered with mysterious events to make the novel more exciting. The biggest was when their aunt in Bath, Mrs. Leigh-Perrot, was accused of theft. She was then arrested, and the whole situation blew up into a full court battle. Harry helped ask around, while the smart Jane pieced together the evidence to figure out the truth. These little mysteries brought excitement to an otherwise mundane story of romance and heartache.

[aseriesofpages · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just didn't work for me....the book sounded modern but wasn't. It didn't feel like it was writen then by somebody who knew Jane Austen. I like the cover though.

[Louise Fry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book from the pound shop not wanting to spend much for a holiday read! I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this the book wasn't amazing!
1) the title - the title is 'Jane Austen stole my boyfriend' is pointless and totally irrelevant to the overall story - Jane never stole the main character Jenny's boyfriend or anyone so the title is pretty pointless in relation to that
2) story was good and enjoyable and was totally quick but it felt a bit boring and not relevant to the title, in the end it was one of them reads that you actually wanted to end!
3) the ending was appalling I would of liked more emphasis on the wedding overall instead of one part and then the they live happily ever after the boring ending
4) you have to read the prequel - you have to read the first book in the series to have any. Understanding of this book as throughout this book there was many different times in which I found myself getting confused and it made me enjoy the book the less and less in these parts
Overall I feel this book was lacking in many parts and was not my read enjoyable but overall I wouldn't pick something like this up again if I had the choice but it done the job that was required!!