Reviews

Miss Austen: A Novel of the Austen Sisters by Gill Hornby

austenheroineinprogress's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

kpeeps111's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Very boring as about as subtle as a peacock. Jane Austen made domestic drama compelling and delightful … this book is like the opposite of that.

carolyneaton's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Absorbing imagining of the letters written by Jane Austen that her sister contemplated and then destroyed after her death. It is an excellent study of grief, and sisterly love and devotion. A must for fans, but you don’t need to be familiar with Miss Austen’s works to enjoy this. 

brittneal's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

daydreaming_knitter's review

emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ohheykatherine's review against another edition

5.0

As someone who found comfort in Jane Austen's book, I adored this. While Jane Austen is not the focus of this book, but rather her sister Cassandra, there is much for Austen fans to enjoy.

I loved that the focus of this was the strong bond between Cassandra and Jane, but also enjoyed how devoted each of the women were to their parents and extended families. Though I have read much about Jane's death, reading it in Miss Austen really struck me.

"Such a sister, such a friend, as could never be surpassed. It was as if she had lost a part of herself."

This is my first Goodreads giveaway win! Thank you Goodreads and Flatiron Books for providing me with this ARC.

whatfern_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kassafras's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

manorclassics's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this! I've been meaning to read it for years and so happy I finally got round to it. Hornby writes in a fun, engaging way, compatible with the time period she's writing about but without trying to mimic Austen. She gives a great explanation for why Cassy might have burned a lot of letters as well as a really good story for Cass herself. I loved the rounded out portrait of Jane Austen and the portrayal of the other characters. I'm really excited to try the rest of Hornby's "Austen" books, Godmersham Park and The Elopement, which comes out next year.

shamya's review against another edition

5.0

5