My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Summary
You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)
Or does she?
Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.
Book Details
My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Published June 26th 2018 by HarperTeen
Young Adult Fiction, Romantic Comedy
Hardcover, 464 pages
Source: Edelweiss
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Book Review
I'm completely besotted with My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows! Based on the beloved classic JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë, this retelling comes complete with ghosts, supernatural mayhem, and an irresistible romance to love, plus, our trio of Lady Janies have infused My Plain Jane with their irreverent sense of humor. It's cheeky and I loved every moment reading it!
“Charlotte smiled. She collected rumors the way some girls liked to accumulate dolls, recording the juicier details into a small notebook she kept.”
First off, you don't need to have read JANE EYRE to enjoy this book. With that being said, being familiar with the overall story (remember the awful "Red Room"!) does add additional fun to seeing where the actual inspiration comes from.
The authors brilliantly add these fun asides throughout the book giving the reader a fun, insiders look into the world of JANE EYRE, one now populated by ghosts and punctuated by sly humor.
“The moment he stepped onto the grounds of Lowood, Alexander Blackwood was surrounded by ghosts. Twenty-seven of them, in fact. An unusually high number.”
Add in the determined and whip-smart Charlotte Brontë with her notepad every-ready for story ideas as a main character right alongside the ever-practical and romantic Jane Eyre (did I mention the fact that her best friend is a ghost?!) plus, the addition of the very handsome, ghost hunter extraordinaire—Alexander Blackwood (think a Victorian stylized Ghostbuster!) and you have a cast of characters guaranteed to cause laugh-out-loud shenanigans.
In the end
The strong characters, asides, and hilarious deconstruction of a Gothic romance make for a fantastic and entertaining read. Readers are sure to find themselves infatuated by My Plain Jane—melodramas and all. Highly recommended.
Additional Note: Fans, be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming story of the legendary Calamity Jane by our Lady Janies.
