Jane Austen Stole my Boyfriend
Cora Harrison

Jane wants to meet a hero worthy of her extraordinary imagination: a gentleman who is dashing and daring and handsome and brave; who can dance like a viscount and duel like a king. Jane and Jenny are whiling away the season in Bath and there are plenty of dances, rumours and scandals to entertain them.

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…

Cora Harrison has brought Jane Austen to the attention of a new generation in this series of books focused around the famous English novelist. In Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend (and the other titles in the series) Harrison has used facts from Jane Austen’s life to write an accessible and enjoyable story for young adults.

While the book is marketed at teenagers, Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend is still a great read for adults interested in the life of Jane Austen. The story follows Jane and her best friend, Jenny Cooper, both aged 16 and hopelessly wanting to find love. The historical details are handled very well; the description of the balls, the gowns and the way life was lived in Britain at the time is excellent. It’s clear how Jane was different to the other girls her age; she wanted to stand out and make a difference, and it’s inspiring to see how love was still very important to her and that she did not care for wealth (which was, at the time, what most women looked for in a husband).

This book clearly shows why Jane Austen was such an iconic writer and person, and Harrison has done a great job in perfectly capturing the era while still keeping the narrative light and simple with her use of modern English. This is a great holiday read for fans of Jane Austen.

Rating: ★★★★★