This book ended better than it started, but wasn’t at all what I wanted. I hate having to write that, but it’s the truth! Even as I’m writing this I realize I’ll probably drop it from a three star to a two star rating on Goodreads when I post this, but I’m not sure – it’s probably a two-and-a-half star book. I was honestly relieved to see this was Wyler’s first novel as she shows a lot of potential and clearly I thought the story was an excellent creation, just the writing (or editing) needed a lot of work.
The idea behind this book was fascinating and perfect, but the execution just wasn’t there. I almost wish Wyler sold the story to another author to write it better, but she didn’t and we have this novel. I sort of think of this as a crossing between Becoming Jane Eyre/Becoming Jane (imdb link) and Austenland in a weird sort of mash-up where historical fact quickly turns to fiction and modern-day collides with it.