Book Review: Austenland

Title: Austenland

Author: Shannon Hale

Publication: Bloomsbury

Release Date: May 29, 2007

Amazon Rating: 3.8 out of 5

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary: Jane Hayes is a woman who lives in New York City with her obsession with Mr. Darcy. Not just any Mr. Darcy but the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy. When her Great Aunt Carolyn passes away she leaves a trip to Austenland for Jane. Austenland is place where you can dress-up and go by day-to-day business as anyone in Jane Austen’s era. Of course Jane takes up the offer to stay in the resort for three weeks. Now will she actually find her Mr. Darcy?

My Review: Let me just start off by saying that this novel is not a young adult novel, it’s for adults. But nothing rated R happens in this book, so I do recommend it for any young adult who love Jane Austen novels. And Shannon Hale is a young adult author as well.

            I loved this book. It was so cute, and funny. Little quirks would make me burst out laughing at random moments. And the character is very relatable. Jane is a woman who wants to find her Mr. Darcy. Like any woman she wants her true love and the happily ever after. The problem is that she always compares the men she has dated to Mr. Darcy, and none of them hit that mark. So when her Great Aunt gives her a trip to Austenland she takes. I think it would be so much fun to go to a place and dress and act likes a different person completely. Women actually have to where a corset and no electronics allowed. You are literally submerged into the nineteenth century. The characters that she meets are the best. They all have different personalities. Mrs. Wattlesbrook owns the estate. Then other people play Jane’s Aunt and Uncle. Then there is Mr. Nobley, the Mr. Darcy you might say he is. He plays the role that fits Mr. Darcy at least. Then there is Thomas the gardener the one who has Jane break out of character. She ends up having feeling for Thomas then realizes that he is holding a big secret. The question comes down to should she pick the man of her dreams, the man who holds a secret, or the man who wants as much love as she does?

            Oh! And did I forget to mention that they are going to make this into a movie. I can’t wait for it to come out! I will keep you all posted when I find out when it will be released.

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• http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/austenland-shannon-hale/1008295324