Title: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Jane Austen Addict #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 304
First Published: August 2nd, 2007
Where I Got It: On my self (Got from Barnes and Nobles many moons ago)
"After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, Courtney Stone wakes up and finds herself not in her Los Angeles bedroom or even in her own body, but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England. Who but an Austen addict like herself could concoct such a fantasy?
Not only is Courtney stuck in another woman's life, she is forced to pretend she actually is that woman; and despite knowing nothing about her, she manages to fool even the most astute observer. But not even her love of Jane Austen has prepared Courtney for the chamber pots and filthy coaching inns of nineteenth-century England, let alone the realities of being a single woman who must fend off suffocating chaperones, condomless seducers, and marriages of convenience. Enter the enigmatic Mr. Edgeworth, who fills Courtney's borrowed brain with confusing memories that are clearly not her own.
Try as she might to control her mind and find a way home, Courtney cannot deny that she is becoming this other woman and being this other woman is not without its advantages: Especially in a looking-glass Austen world. Especially with a suitor who may not turn out to be a familiar species of philanderer after all."
I have been saving this book for a long, long time. I wanted to read all the novels by Jane Austen, before diving into this. Why? Well...I felt like it would be more appropriate if I had read all the books. I still have to read the short stories, but oh well.
Mmmmm, where to begin? *thinks*
First off...poor Courtney. She may have been addicted to Jane Austen books, but she was not AT all ready for the time travel that fate would make endure. A lot of people in other reviews have criticized her for being a "baby" and being "condescending" about this time period. Okay...I LOVE history, but if I was sucked into the past I think I would be a little baby-ish or condescending too. I mean not having a shower and wearing tight corsets are going to come off as hard. I would love to see someone completely reform right off the bat with not having rights as a woman or having to pee in a chamberpot. Unlikely.
Sorry for my rant...
Yes, I did find Courtney annoying at times and very blind to the truth, however, I do feel bad that she had to deal with Mama Mansfield and her super bitchy cousin, Susan and with Frank (grrrrrrr). Courtney was very blonde and naive and thoughtless at times. Buuuuut I did like her...-ish.
Overall, the story was fun and I enjoyed it. The ending confused me a little bit and I wasn't entirely sure on what happened. *SPOILER ALERT* Did Courtney and Jane morph into one? Did Jane get sucked back and forget she was living in modern times? WHAT? GAH! *SPOILER ENDED* This was still cute even though I was slightly confused by the ending. Perhaps it will be better explained in the second book that follows Jane's adventure in Courtney's body. ^.^ Excited to read that one day. I encourage those Jane Austen addicts to give this a try, you'll like it I bet. I think one does need some Austen book knowledge to understand many of the references. Well, I shall stamp this with 4 stars.
Favorite Character(s): Wes, Courtney (-ish, she was annoying at times), Papa Mansfield, and Mary.
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Frank (bastard), Lousia (mmmm), Susan, Mama Mansfield, and Charles (sorry, I wasn't impressed by him).
