Wife Upstairs

I do think this book was a fun read. I loved all of the direct references to Jane Eyre since this is a retelling of that story. It was nice seeing references to John Rivers, Jane, Edward Rochester, and Thornfield.
There are two storylines to help keep the reader engaged throughout the story. There was the mystery of Jane’s past and a one involving two missing women.
Overall, I didn't think this story was very innovative or groundbreaking, but enjoyable nonetheless.

3.5 stars rounded up because it kept my interest. This is an entertaining and twisty modern novel based loosely on Jane Eyre. I read it for my book club and it will make an interesting discussion.

The perfectly engaging thriller/sort of romance to get me through a bout of COVID. A modern retelling of Jane Eyre, a book I hated from the first time I read it in high school. This Jane is far less insipid, and this novel has much more fun with the twists and turns of gothic literature, plus some added social commentary.

While I have not read the classic Jane Eyre, so I cannot make any comparisons between the two, I did enjoy this debut novel by Rachel Hawkins. It is a very fast paced story about murder, love, friendship and betrayal. There is an outsider, an insider, and an imposter. Some characters are more than one. I liked the writing style, alternating between Jane and Bea and Eddie at the end and also the narrator. Sometimes I had to suspend belief about what I was reading. For one thing, I found it almost impossible for Jane to rise from dog walker in the prestigious Thornfield Estates to the newly engaged lady of Thornfield Estates, especially at the age of 23. I also would have liked to see if Jane's past did catch up with her. That could have been developed so much more. But it was a fun, fast read of rich, privileged people living in the south.

Does he love her? Does he still love me? Because I think I still love him in spite of it all. Entertaining, but underwhelming relative to a Bronte Sister.