Rachel Givney’s Jane in Love is Just Delightful

 ‘If Jane Austen had to choose between the heart and the pen, what would she do?’

At age twenty-eight, our favourite romance author Jane Austen knows she should be seeking a suitable husband. Even though she is close to spinsterhood, all she wants to do is write. Given this is an unsuitable profession for a woman of her time, Jane needs to take some extreme measures in order to keep writing – and find the man of her dreams. These extreme measures magically land her in modern-day England.

In a brand new and slightly terrifying new world, where horseless steel carriages line the streets and people wear very little clothing, Jane needs to learn her way around. She learns quite quickly that she has become a famous writer, one of the most well-known authors in the world. She forms a new friend in fading film star Sofia Wentworth, currently filming a new version of Northanger Abbeyin Bath. She also, against her better judgement, starts to fall for Sofia’s brother Fred, who has the audacity to be handsome, clever and kind-hearted.

But as Jane’s romance with Fred becomes more real, her presence in the literary world starts to waver. Can she find a way to stop herself disappearing from history before it’s too late?

Rachel Givney’s Jane in Love is everything I wanted it to be and more. It is a delightful modern-day reimagining of Jane Austen’s life, full of rich and nuanced characters. This wonderfully witty romantic comedy provides all the feelings we love and look for in a good romcom, with moments of blissful joy, moments of tears and ‘what if?’, and moments where you will laugh out loud. It’s one of those books that you finish and then want to shout about to everyone who will listen – and even those who won’t, offering a new side to Jane’s story, which we historically know is less than perfect.

Jane Austen fans will recognise call-backs to her original works, but this book is written for everyone, if they are fans of Miss Austen or not. Time-travel has been worked into the plot seamlessly, making it seem not only seem possible, but also making us wish it were if it gives us a chance at a happily-ever-after. Givney has created a modern classic, with all the charm and wit we love about Austen in a gorgeous modern England setting. You’ll not be disappointed in this fun, delightful and completely entertaining read. I can only hope we get a movie one day!