This book is a delightful genre mashup: historical fiction meets sci-fi with a dash of romance, all centered around Jane Austen herself. Fans of Austen paraliterature, time travel adventures, and anyone who loves exploring 'what ifs' in literary history will find a lot to savor. Kathleen A. Flynn nails the Regency-era atmosphere - from dialogue to dinner menus - and creates an utterly believable Jane Austen, both sharp and warm. If you geek out about period details, enjoy stories where modern sensibilities collide with the past, or dream about having tea with an author legend, this one's for you.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Readers who aren’t keen on blending genres or want pure sci-fi or strict historical accuracy may find the book a little offbeat. Hardcore sci-fi fans might be irked by the hand-wavey time travel mechanics, while Austen purists may object to including her as a character or might find some of the steamier scenes out of place. Some also found the protagonist, Rachel, a bit hard to connect with, and felt the romance subplot didn’t sparkle with the same energy as the rest of the novel. The ending is somewhat abrupt, which left a few readers unsatisfied.

A smart, imaginative romp for Austen lovers and time travel fans alike - clever, immersive, and just different enough to be memorable. Not perfect, but thoroughly enjoyable.

About:

The novel 'The Jane Austen Project' by Kathleen A. Flynn follows the story of Rachel and Liam, two time travelers sent back to 1815 England to retrieve Jane Austen's lost novel, 'The Watsons,' and save her letters from destruction. The plot combines elements of time travel, historical fiction, and romance, as the characters immerse themselves in the Regency era to accomplish their mission. The writing style is described as sparkling, with crisp dialogues, vivid descriptions, and a modern prose that evokes the feel of an older time without imitating Jane Austen's style.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, reflecting both modern sensibilities and historical realities, especially Jane Austen's lively personality.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines modern narration with period-appropriate detail, immersing readers in both the future and Regency England.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intertwines time travel with Austen's life, focusing on a mission to save her unreleased works while managing societal obstacles.

Setting:

The setting captures Regency England in great detail, providing an immersive experience that contrasts with the future the characters come from.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the book, moving effectively during much of the plot but experiencing a rushed conclusion.

WHAT KIND OF MANIAC TRAVELS IN TIME? SOMETHING I WOULD wonder more than once before it was over, but never as urgently as that moment I regained consciousness on the damp ground. Grass tickled the bac...

Notes:

The story involves time travel to Jane Austen's time, specifically 1815.

The protagonists, Dr. Rachel Katzman and actor Liam Finucane, pose as siblings from Jamaica.

Their mission is to retrieve Austen's unpublished novel, 'The Watsons', and letters to her sister Cassandra.

Time travel in this story is limited and considered a rare ability for most characters.

The book explores the cultural norms and constraints faced by women in the 19th century.

Rachel's medical skills are crucial but must be secretly advised to Liam, who poses as a doctor.

The characters must navigate the emotionally complex world of Jane Austen while maintaining their cover.

Rachel and Liam's romantic subplot adds complexity to their mission without overshadowing it.

The book creatively blends elements of science fiction with historical fiction and Austen's biography.

The narrative reflects on the potential repercussions of altering history through time travel.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of illness, loss, and historical gender issues.

Has Romance?

The romance between Rachel and Liam plays a significant role, but it is not the main focus of the story.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

LibraryReads Selection

"The most brilliant Austen-adjacent book on the market. . . . Flynn's style makes this a quick, fun read, and since the story is Jane-related there's even a romantic subplot." - Vulture

"What lover of literature hasn't dreamed of going back in time to meet Jane Austen? . . . . Kathleen A. Flynn brings this dream to life, creating a vivid portrait of Regency England in all its glory and squalor." -Lauren Belfer, author of After the Fire and A Fierce Radiance

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, this engrossing novel offers an unusual twist on the legacy of one of the world's most celebrated and beloved authors: two researchers from the future are sent back in time to meet Jane and recover a suspected unpublished novel.

London, 1815: Two travelers-Rachel Katzman and Liam Finucane-arrive in a field in rural England, disheveled and weighed down with hidden money. Turned away at a nearby inn, they are forced to travel by coach all night to London. They are not what they seem, but rather colleagues who have come back in time from a technologically advanced future, posing as wealthy West Indies planters-a doctor and his spinster sister. While Rachel and Liam aren't the first team from the future to "go back," their mission is by far the most audacious: meet, befriend, and steal from Jane Austen herself.

Carefully selected and rigorously trained by The Royal Institute for Special Topics in Physics, disaster-relief doctor Rachel and actor-turned-scholar Liam have little in common besides the extraordinary circumstances they find themselves in. Circumstances that call for Rachel to stifle her independent nature and let Liam take the lead as they infiltrate Austen's circle via her favorite brother, Henry.

But diagnosing Jane's fatal illness and obtaining an unpublished novel hinted at in her letters pose enough of a challenge without the continuous convolutions of living a lie. While her friendship with Jane deepens and her relationship with Liam grows complicated, Rachel fights to reconcile the woman she is with the proper lady nineteenth-century society expects her to be. As their portal to the future prepares to close, Rachel and Liam struggle with their directive to leave history intact and exactly as they found it. . . however heartbreaking that may prove.

Reader Stats (15):

Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (4)

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The Jane Austen Project

Kathleen A. Flynn

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