I must admit that I had very low expectations for this book -- I was expecting Bible-thumping chick lit -- and boy was I wrong! This is a totally delightful read that has some real Austen scholarship behind it. A delightful, quick read that has a message that we can all learn from: take responsibility for your own actions and own the outcome. Now I am chomping at the bit to read the next book, "Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart". If you know and love Jane Austen, you will enjoy your trip through her haunts...if you know nothing at all about Jane Austen, you will learn but knowledge of her career and life is not imperative to enjoy this book. It's fun!

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I did NOT want to like this book. As soon as I saw it was published by Guidepost and that the author has written a number of books that I consider romance novels, I regretted using a credit to buy this book. But since I love Jane Austen and an empty weekend was at hand, I decided to skim the book before relisting it. And I'm so glad that I did!

The premise was interesting -- that a dotty old lady was slowly revealing previously hidden letters written by Jane Austen that would reveal unknown parts of her love life. I got a little grouchy that the lady was so evasive and kept sending Emma off on wild goose chases, but each of those trips yielded some new insights into JA and also for Emma herself.

I wanted to smack Emma upside the head more than a few times (and like Cher in Moonstruck yell "SNAP OUT OF IT!!!"). I didn't particularly warm to her character. I agree with a reviewer on an Austen blog who said that Emma didn't talk and act like the educated college professor she was. Granted, she was in the midst of a life crisis but she came across as a petulant teenager instead of an adult.

Her whole mantra that reading Jane Austen ruined her life read to me as a cop-out. After all, Mr. Darcy (and particularly Colin Firth's portrayal) lured me into the world of all things Austen. BUT Emma's soul-searching near the end hit so close to home for my marriage that I copied one big paragraph and stuck it in my diary to reread whenever I get a case of the stupids. Once you've read this book you'll know which paragraph I mean.

I agree with other reviewers here that the ending was not totally satisfying to me. Without spoiling it, I'll just say that in the short term Emma probably needed to do that, but I hope in the long term she didn't regret it.

This was a quick easy read. Perhaps you, too, will gain some personal insight to make it worth your while!

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I love Jane Austen everything, and when I saw this book and read the first page, I knew it was coming home with me. I really enjoyed this story. It's easy to get into, the author's writing style is so relaxed and welcoming, and I wish the story hadn't ended. Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen love story, and I'm so glad that the author chose to feature it the way she did in this novel. I wish I had my own Captain Wentworth!

!!!WARNING --- SPOILERS IN THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS!!!


Emma's story is uplifting, and I love how Beth Pattillo kind of paralleled her story with Jane Austen's in the book. I especially loved reading all the made-up letters and the fun tasks Emma had to complete. My favorite task was the last one at Chawton where Emma runs her finger across Jane Austen's writing desk when no one is looking. I can totally see myself doing that, and my heart beat even speeds up just thinking about such a rush! Oh man, to feel the power! I would love to visit all the places Emma went to during her research. Fun, fun!

The only thing I wish was different was the ending. I was hoping the author would have featured a little more about Adam and Emma reuniting in the epilogue. I was really rooting for Adam the whole time. Poor guy. Pattillo should have written more story so that Adam and Emma could get together again back in London and have a happily-ever-after. Those are always nice...but the final ending does suit the story and leaves the reader wondering what will happen next. Sometimes at the end of a really good book, it is nice not really knowing the rest. It made for a good "find yourself" type story, and even though there was not as much romance as I would have liked, it was still a satisfying, fun read. I'm definitely keeping it to read again in the future.

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Loved, loved, loved, loved this book. Now a top 5 favorite of mine. I think Emma-the main character could've been a bit stronger but the Jane Austen details and the Formidables twist was a great story. Made me inspired to do a trip just like Emma took in the book maybe next year with the Jane Austen Society. Highly recommended! Definately a keeper for me!

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The book is a very quick read. I enjoyed the almost Da Vinci Code like plot-- the main character is given the opportunity to read Jane Austen's long-lost letters but only after completing several tasks that take her all over Austen's England. The letters will reveal a long-buried secret. Of course, as she completes these tasks she also forms a romantic attachment to a conveniently hunky guy but that subplot isn't as overbearing as it is in a lot of "chick-lit" books.

The ending though--argggghhh!!! Sooooo unsatisfying and abrupt. Honestly, it tainted the whole book for me. I don't know if I can read it again knowing how it ends.

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I liked it... even if it was a "Guidepost" book. The religous overtones were not too bad. But I didn't love it. If I were to dream-up a fake true love for Jane Austen, it would not have been what her real life sister had. The story felt old and I kept saying... Jane was not in love with a poor naval officer that dies at sea... her sister was! Also, for a person with a PhD... she was just too stupid. Yes, she just had a shocking divorce. Yes, she lost her job (Which was TOO unbelievable... should have thought of another way to accomplish that). And Yes, she was far from home. But really, she had no common sense! Let me sell my wedding rings for a fancy dress even though I'm dirt poor and not sure when I will ever work again! Let me go on a date with a stranger and not tell anybody who/where/when/etc. Let me ask for access to a photocopy machine when there is no doubt it will be reported back to the people I have promised I would not make photocopies!
It needs some editing and a reality check... the idea was good.

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This was a quick read and a great book. Characters were well developed, and the heroine is a wronged weak woman who finds her strength while chasing the lost letters of Jane Austen.

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It was an interesting book, mild romance,enjoyed it for a light read.

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"Jane Austen Ruined My Life" by Beth Pattillo is a fun and enjoyable read. When Emma decides, after her divorce and losing her job, that she needs to do something different and get away, she goes to her cousin's house in England to stay a while, but finds another male friend staying there, also, while the cousin is away.

Emma is a Janeite, and she crosses the path of a strange lady who tells her that if she does certain requests for her, she will show her the genuine letters of Jane Austen that only she knows about. Emma would love to publish them someday, so she takes on the challenge.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read. I love Jane Austen and it is a pleasure to find anything that has to do with her, fiction or non-fiction. I enjoyed reading everything connected with Jane in the book and came out of this book with a few more facts. I would love to retrace Emma's steps and see all of the places that she saw while in England, especially Bath. Janeites should enjoy this.

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I loved this book. It was a great story and gave a different perspective on Austen's life.

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Fun book to read as historical fiction. I love Jane Austen and although the story was somewhat predictable, I would want to read other books like this.

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A good book and a quick read, but not as great as I had hopped.

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I am always leery of non-Jane Austen Jane Austen novels. Some of them are terrible and don't deserve to be on the same planet as an actual Austen novel. This is not one of those. I enjoyed this book very much. I think it was a good homage to Austen. The author attempts to fill in the holes in Jane's life history, especially her love life. At the same time the main character, who is suffering from a broken heart, has to come to terms with the fact that happy endings are a rarity. There is also some mystery and romance. If you love Jane Austen I suggest you give this book a try. You may even shed a few tears for the loss of Jane from this world.

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A fun read, somewhat predictable but still clever and engaging. If you're an Austen fan, then you will appreciate it!

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The ending was a bit of a let down. Needless to say, it didn't entirely ruin the story, just left me wanting and epilogue of sorts.

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This was a great book, I really like the setting, the pace of the story, the interesting facts and here comes the but, I hated the ending. You might like it but I thought it didn't fit with the story. You will like the development of the main character and the wonderful tasks she has to do. Fun book, a good read.

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This was a fun read. I really enjoyed all of the tidbits of information about Jane Austen's life (the tidbits that weren't fictionalized). But I agree with those who found the ending a bit unsatisfying. I guess we're all just romantics at heart. :)

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I enjoyed this book enough to finish it, but I did so mostly for the Jane Austen aspects. The heroine, her ex Edward, her BFF Adam and her semi-date Barry seemed like vague blanks with no distinct personalities at all. On a stylistic basis, it's competent prose, but it won't challenge anybody. I had hoped it would be more involving than it was. Ms Austen deserved better.

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