Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend - Cora Harrison (#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 (see my review).
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

Author's Website: http://www.coraharrison.com/
Pages: 346
Publisher: Macmillan
Challenges: BBC, Historical Fiction

Cora Harrison's other books:
I was Jane Austen's Best Friend
Debutantes

If you like this, you'll also like....
Cassandra's Sister by Veronica Bennett
Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Love, Lies and Lizzie by Rosie Rushton

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend - Cora Harrison

I waited until my holiday for this one because I knew I would enjoy it and it seemed like one of those summer romantic reads to read on holiday in the sun...not in dreary raining, cloudy England. Although I hate the novels themselves, I'm starting to like the Jane Austen lifetime books at the moment. They're so interesting.
Cora Harrison herself, I found out, has released lots of books - I've never heard of her before!

Synopsis: When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship that she applies to her writing. Unexpectedly,  Jenny meets a young naval officer at a ball who knows her desperate secret which if revealed could ruin her reputation and bring scandal to both herself and the wonderful caring Austen family.
Told through Jenny's beloved diary, Jane helps Jenny get through these obstacles that stand in the way of a better, more happier life.
(Partly from Goodreads.com)

Review: I loved this book. I really did. I've read both good and bad reports of this so I was a tad weary when I started it but really...I personally, think it is one of the best books I have read so far in my years that I can remember.
Okay, so some of you might be thinking I am going way too far but I think if you were me and read this book, you would totally understand where I'm coming from.
I ended this book wanting more, not wanting it to end or to go out of my reading live. It was that good for me.
The story is told through Jenny's diary which gives you a very detailed account on what happened and her feelings especially - and of the happenings of Jane Austen, her best friend, companion and dear cousin. However, the nice thing about this book with the characters is that, it's not all about Jenny and Jane. You also find out more about the rest of the Austen family and the school children Mr Austen taught. You get an insight into the life that they led in the 1700's - the etiquette, the manners, the family relationships, the courtship and the type of thing they would have seen as scandalous when we might not even think twice. The nice thing about this too is that Cora Harrison has played on the future relationships of the Austens and who, if you, like I did when I got back, look up, later marry or propose to. It's actually really interesting looking them up afterwards and seeing what happened and Harrison has done this well - not too obvious yet not too subtle.

The characters are very much like how I could imagine them, reading other books and facts about the Austen family. I can also see how the author has based some of the characters on Jane Austen's beloved characters in her own books which fits well with the book and adds a nice personal touch. Mr & Mrs Austen reminded me a lot of Mr & Mrs Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, Edward-John Cooper (Jenny's brother) was a LOT like Mr Collins - although his 'humourous' lines weren't amazingly funny. And then Augusta, his wife, reminded me of Mrs Elton from Emma. Jane Austen, herself, reminded me of Emma, herself, which was interesting.
The funniest likeness was Jane's youngest brother, Charles being so much like Lydia in Pride and Prejudice...I have no idea why - maybe the playfulness and how he acted so young for a 12 year-old. I really liked these little touches.
My only complain is that Captain Williams, we meet in the first chapter. But then, he doesn't return until page 200-something. I can understand the long wait but...I would personally have liked him to come back earlier - he's a little cheesy for my liking but nice... :)

There is also the question of 'So how much of it is true?'. Well so start off with the characters are all real people (of course the Austen family were) and, as described in the Author's Note at the back which was interesting to read afterwards, Jenny was a real person too who had stayed at Steventon for a year. The only changes is Jenny's name was really Jane (but she couldn't really have two Janes in the story) and she was more older than Jane Austen and closer to Cassendra's, Jane's older sister, age. You can really see the thought and the historical detail that has gone into making this novel, probably 95% (maybe - I'm guessing) is true and real.

As you can tell, I absolutely love this novel and this is one of my favourites. I loved the descriptions, the characters, her writing and how is was so entertaining. Although some may not like the fact that it is very informal and unlike the Regency speak, I liked that - it made it easier to read and let's face it, who would want to read ANOTHER book in the language of Jane Austen that was written in modern times? I certainly don't.
I am looking forward to reading Cora Harrison's next book in the series, Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend which has just been released. YAAY!

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.coraharrison.com/
Pages: 352
Publisher: Macmillan
Challenges: BBC, Historical Fiction