Jane by April Lindner - Review

I adore Jane Eyre, so it was with excitement and trepidation that I picked up this modern retelling ... and it is fabulous! We first meet Jane in Discriminating Nannies, Inc. looking for work. She has just lost her parents, her siblings are awful, and she doesn't have enough money to stay in college. What's a girl to do? Become a nanny, of course. But Jane is unusual. She dresses differently, listens to classical music, and doesn't watch TV. She seems like a perfect fit to care for the daughter of Nico Rathburn, the rock god and poster child for the rock and roll lifestyle who is on the verge of a comeback tour. Jane wants to save enough money to go back to college, but despite her practicality, reserve, and independence, she soon falls in love with her brooding employer. But can they overcome the secrets of his dark past?

If you have read Jane Eyre, there is no mystery here. You know the secret, but it just doesn't matter - you'll still need to keep turning the page. While staying remarkably close to the original, Lindner makes the story totally hers, makes it work, and makes you fall in love with this Victorian gothic all over again. If you haven't read Jane Eyre, there is no better introduction. And if it leads you to the original, all the better.