John Eyre is a schoolteacher haunted by loneliness, guilt and a laudanum habit.
He takes up a job as tutor to two young boys at the isolated Thornfield Hall.
When weird things occur, he is not sure what is real and what is opium related.

John’s employer Mrs Rochester is enigmatic, mercurial and hiding some terrifying secrets from her recent travels across Egypt, Greece and Bulgaria.

This is a brilliant Jane Eyre gender swap, turned into a true gothic horror.
I loved the way the story unfolds. It was fun watching for links to characters in Jane Eyre and the breadcrumbs or hints about Rochester’s true nature.

Stunningly good. Couldn't put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

John Eyre
A Tale of Darkness and Shadow
by Mimi Matthews
Perfectly Proper Press


Lock the doors and check them twice with this newest one from the author Mimi Matthews. A stunning gothic gender reversal retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, interwoven with the literary classic, Dracula.

Oh my stars this was so good, a deliciously addictive ominous tale


There is a slow burning creep to this book that steadily builds with intensity as the reader is taken by the hand and pulled ever so gently through the dark page of its storyline. The author Mimi Matthews has done an exceptionally job of gender-swapping the characters in a stunning way that was so clever. I have read Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Dracula every single year in the Autumn since 1988 and I have to say this was book was impressive and brilliantly executed.

John Eyre’s atmospheric imagery is brilliant and forbidding, and gloomy. The tale is just enough suspense to cause the hairs on the back of your neck to rise. Matthews delivers a well-written, unique and twisty read here, that had me pretty much-questioning everything that was happening within the pages of this book.

The way that the details were revealed to us was extremely well-done and the setting was creepily atmospheric which I totally loved. I will always have a profound connected with the authors writing style, it’s descriptive and fluid. The plot was suspenseful with precise amount of sinisterness to hold my attention fully all the way through.

Once again Mimi Matthews delivers a highly entertaining historical fiction. This time she will keep you on your toes in gothic romance that features the supernatural.

I highly recommend this book to those who love proper historical romance the perfect amount of gothic.

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔. 𝙰𝚕𝚜𝚘, 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜.

Whenever I receive a Mimi Matthews book to read, I have to pace myself as I otherwise find myself reading madly until the end, only to find myself disappointed that I have finished. This is definitely a book to savour and quite different from her past books. Without revealing the plot, it is clearly evident that ‘John Eyre’ could be a retelling of Jane Eyre. But don’t be fooled by the title, as this book has a gothic air to it, with gender swapped roles. Throw in some romance, and you will find yourself captivated by the two main characters. Part way through, I was quite uncertain as to where the book would lead as Mrs Rochester (Bertha) and John, are quite an unlikely romantic couple yet as their stories unfold, their relationship is unique but so ‘right’. What made this book stand out, was the letters written by Bertha to her friend, a year prior to meeting John as the tension was built, quite cleverly through these letters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The concept of John Eyre excited me, because hell yes, gender-swapped Jane Eyre! Although in fairness, given that it involves both Rochester and Bertha, I think it’s just as much of a straight-up reimagining, with further exploration of the gender politics of the Victorian period.

Mimi Matthews captures the gritty, Gothic, somewhat supernatural feel of Thornfield and other locations Bertha visits (Eastern Europe, in an homage to Dracula, as a major secondary source of inspiration). There’s a real sense of something not quite right unfolding in the two timelines, from John’s and Bertha’s perspectives respectively.

I really liked this version of Bertha, who finds herself in a perilous situation with a violent man, going from the naive debutante to fighting tooth and nail for survival.

I wasn’t sure what to make of John as a lead. In comparison to Bertha, I didn’t feel much for him, and I would have preferred if Bertha’s narrative had been fleshed out more, or perhaps if John had been given more personality to make him stand out next to Bertha. And while Matthews typically writes compelling romantic relationships, I wasn’t super into this one, finding the chemistry lacking between them. However, as a largely heroine-centric reader, I appreciate the story for what it is, given how often the reverse is the case, especially as the original Jane Eyre may have served as an early blueprint for the ever-popular “broody rake/ingenue” stories.

This is an interesting, albeit flawed take on a well-loved classic. If you liked the original, you’ll appreciate the line it walks between staying true to the original and injecting something new into the narrative. If you aren’t a fan of the original, I think you’ll enjoy it, particularly if you always felt Rochester didn’t deserve Jane and/or Bertha deserved better. And if you haven’t read the original, you should still absolutely read it, especially if you like Gothic romance.

What if Jane Eyre was a man instead of a woman? How would the story of Jane Eyre play out? That is the question that John Eyre answers in a very clever way. John Eyre combines two classics, but I don’t want to ruin the story, so I won’t say which is the second classic.

John Eyre is a schoolmaster who must leave his position after the wife of his patron, Lady Helen Burns, falls in love with him. He accepts a position at Thornfield as the tutor to two mysterious boys from Europe. As he works to break them out of their shell, he wonders about his employer, the mysterious and missing Mrs. Rochester. When Mrs. Rochester returns, he finds her even more of an enigma. What is Mrs. Rochester hiding from her past? Why are there mysterious almost supernatural happenings going on at Thornfield?

I really enjoyed this novel. I really liked the unique premise with the gender flip and the combining of two classics stories. They worked well together. The story is told from John’s perspective in the third person and a past narrative where a young Bertha Mason narrates letters to her best friend Blanche Ingram. Bertha narrates her voyage through Europe and her meeting and marriage to Mr. Rochester. I loved the way this book was written like this.

I enjoyed the Victorian Gothic novel and the supernatural elements. I don’t want to ruin it for others, but I think this would be a perfect book to read leading up to Halloween. Matthews knows Jane Eyre was able to change elements of it while keeping the elements that make Jane Eyre its own unique story.

Overall, John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is a gender swapping supernatural retelling of Jane Eyre that is thoroughly enjoyable.

Book Source: Review Copy from Perfectly Proper Press

This was a really intriguing novel that interwove the classic tales of Jane Eyre and Dracula in a very accessible and engaging way. Mimi Matthews obviously has great respect for both these original works and has taken care in crafting a story that feels familiar while creating a safe space for a more eerie and supernatural nature to begin to creep in and be explored. Matthews writing is well paced through out most of the story and then it ramps up speed as the climax builds. The events of the story follow and parallel the same story beats of major plot points in Jane Eyre and Matthews hints at elements of Dracula through letters Bertha Rochester writes to Blanche Ingram, as well as the mysterious elements of the truth of Rochester's madness. If you know the story of Jane Eyre you will not be surprised by any elements of the story but you will be in interested in how Matthews chooses to weave together elements and character beats to tell her version.

John Eyre, is a very similar character to the original, he has grown up with certain hardships that have lead him to question his religious faith (but this does not play too heavily into the story), he is curious and inquisitive. Although John Eyre is the protagonist that we are experiencing the story through, Bertha, at heart, is the one on the discovers her power and exerts her authority. Bertha Manson/Rochester is a woman of leisure who loves to travel and explore, in her explorations she meets Edward Rochester and falls under his spell, we are slowly revealed throughout the story the truth of Rochester's character which helps to create an eerie and gothic tone as the climax approaches. The reality of John and Bertha's developing love story takes on a slightly new feeling over the original, with the interrogating woman being the one in power and with the highest authority through out the story.

This was definitely a fascinating exploration and retelling of two well beloved European classic novels. I would definitely recommend this novel especially if you love the original works that Matthews is drawing from. This slow burn romance has a nice gothic undertone that kept me engaged and interested in discovering what elements Matthews' choose to weave through out her tale.

Mimi Matthews did spooky and supernatural elements excellent without being gory or having grautitous horror. I do not do horror books or movies at all so if this is you as well I wouldn't worry about picking this book up. Especially, if you've come to appreciate this author's writing as I have. Mimi Matthews is wonderful with imagery. I feel like I'm right in the story experiencing it myself. This book was a definite page turner. I was hard pressed to put this story down. As the story progressed the plot thickened and I didn't even try to piece everything together. I allowed the story to unfold and enjoyed the journey. I enjoyed the strong h & H in the book. While there is romance in the story I wouldn't say it's the sole theme. This had a suspense and slow burn love with the h & H coming together to help and strengthen each other. I very much loved the story and was dissapointed that I had finished. Mimi Matthews has become and auto read/buy for me. If you enjoy some suspense without being scared like many horror movies like to do & a hea I reccommend this book.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book as it is retellings of Jane Eyre(which I hated) and Dracula(which was fine but boring) but this just kept pulling me in deeper and deeper at the same time as eliminating the things I hated most about Jane Eyre.
It's told in 2 timelines, the older timeline being related through letters and diary entries which were really interesting especially as it pulls in new locations like Egypt and Varna.
John Eyre goes to Thornfield hall after his friend Helen, who was a married woman that was in love with him but he didn't return her feelings, commits suicide. He is slowly becoming a laudanum addict, using it initially to treat his headaches he starts over medicating to deal with his guilt over Helen's death. He sees Helen's ghost on the way to the hall and believes he's suffering the side effects of the drug and the 2 boys he's to teach are mute and look like the undead which also helps convince him he might be overdoing it.
His relationship with the 2 boys was very sweet, he goes all protective papa bear over them. His relationship with Bertha really did parallel Jane Eyre fairly closely with a few key deviations.

With Jane Eyre being my favorite piece of classic literature, I had high expectations and was delighted to have them met and exceeded. Ms. Matthews serves up a story that is delightfully spooky, pleasantly twisty, and a fantastically delivered homage to not one but two great works in a way that readers will never expect. I was completely absorbed, throughly entertained, and totally satisfied with the way the author played with my favorite story in such a clever way.

Reader, I must confess that I went into this book totally blind. No blurb, no captions, and a mere glance at the cover. This is because I spotted the title and the author, and it was all over. I needed a gender swapped Jane Eyre-Dracula mash up to quench my insatiable curiosity and wonder over such a combo. Some authors might have difficulty pulling off such a feat, but I did not have a doubt in the world that in Mimi Matthews’ capable hands that John Eyre would dazzle.

John Eyre arrives at his new place of employment on a cold, rainy, and foggy night. He barely catches a glimpse of the new Yorkshire countryside or Thornfield Hall. His mind is weighed down by the past and his head aches dreadfully. He craves the laudanum that he has been using to dull his memories and pain. But it is not long before natural curiosity for his peculiar new charges, his absent employer, and his new surroundings rouse him. Thornfield Hall might be remote, creak with odd noises, and the Yorkshire environs bleak, but John Eyre starts to settle in and feel a modicum of peace. Then Mrs. Rochester arrives.

Mrs. Rochester is changeable, direct, capable, and very much in charge. He senses there is great mystery from this well-traveled world-weary woman. She challenges him and his notions of women, and the world he has barely experienced in his humble circumstances. His very stolidity and sureness appear to be a challenge to her as well as they slowly become friends. That is until a well-known man of her own status arrives and rattles his confidence in their relationship. Nonetheless, he stands pat when events transpire that Mrs. Rochester requires his unquestionable and discreet trust. And he freely gives it. In the end, his love and trust are challenged, and he is faced with the irrational and incredible.

John Eyre is a tale that could be described as gothic literature—a combination of a gothic romance, classic literature, and supernatural horror. infused with atmospheric descriptions and hair-raising moments, this mash-up of two beloved classics stays in the mild to moderate horror range depending on your sensibilities and balances more toward the Jane Eyre story than Dracula.

The book is divided into dual time threads: the present with John Eyre doing the narration and the past in epistolary form from Bertha’s perspective. Matthews has cleverly switched genders from the original classic. Bertha Mason Rochester is now the heroine instead of Mr. Rochester as the hero. The supporting characters are also part of the swap and some scenes and situations from both of the original classics are left out or combined to make the story work better. That said, each of the two classics are clearly and beautifully represented in the story.

John had most of the limelight, though Bertha’s strong personality was always present. John is retiring in many ways though he has a keen mind and inner strength that supports of his employer and friend. This dynamic worked because she has been through so much and just needs someone on her side to believe her in the end. Bertha is intelligent, independent, and dominant in a time when that was not attractive in a woman, but she is also adventurous and is willing to buck society and go it alone. John Eyre is the first person to quietly accept her for her true self and back her up when all reason tells him that he should run. Their scenes, particularly near the end, were electrifying together.

Reader, I loved it. Matthews has crafted a compelling and addictive tale that I was tempted to immediately click back to begin reading again. Those who enjoy classic retellings, gothic lit, and the fun of gender swaps should add this to their reading list.

📖Not enough twist from the Bronte classic for me🤔

3.5🌟 stars
I've read the classic Charlotte Bronte novel Jane Eyre numerous times over the years. Author Mimi Matthews has written a good gothic plot with lots of supernatural atmospherics, reversed the sex of most of the characters and changed Bertha Mason Rochester to a female lead. Fine twists and deviations but I just felt too much of the plot was too close a replication of the scenes from Bronte's novel.

Yes, it held my interest. Yes, the writing was good and the story is laced with some exciting action scenes and a strong female lead. And I liked the dual time lines where, through Bertha's correspondence and journals alternated with John Eyre's story, we gradually learn the traumatic background for Bertha returning to England with her two wards needing the care of a tutor -- enter John Eyre to Thornfield Hall. The part of the novel that was not set in England was the more interesting part of the plot for me, probably because it was full-on gothic horror and had few shades of Bronte's story.

It's a fine gothic tale but just lacked a bit of something for me.

Thanks to Perfectly Proper Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Moody, atmospheric and true in its’s original; this was the Jane Eyre retelling that I have been waiting for!

In this gender reversal retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, we meet John Eyre as he embarks on his trip to a new post as a tutor for two young boys at a remote estate. These boys are the Rochester wards and John soon finds out that things are not quite as they seem when he arrives at the house. His employer, the mysterious Mrs. Rochester keeps him on his toes as he tries to navigate this difficult teaching assignment…

I don’t want to give too much away, but reader’s can rejoice on the similarities found in this retelling with the original, only they are delivered with a new zest! John Eyre os given an almost horror treatment and it fits so well!

As a Jane Eyre fan, I can safely say that this retelling is perfection; enough of the original to keep the intended story and plenty of twists and adaptations than seamlessly blend into the classic story.

This is a must read for fans of classics and gothic romance alike!

John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is scheduled to release July 20th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Perfectly Proper Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#JohnEyre #MimiMatthews #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

Horror at its best................

John Eyre by Mimi Matthews is an excellent historical horror book. The story is a combination of Jane Eyre and Dracula. Although, I haven't read Jane Eyre but John Eyre is one of its kind. The cover of the book is also intriguing. The mystery and horror is so exciting that you can't wait to finish the book. With each and every page the mystery deepens. The best part of the book is Bertha's encounters with the evil.

Bertha will be my all time favorite as throughout the story she stayed strong and alert. The twist in the climax is equally riveting. The book deserves a 5 star. Mimi Matthews has written a gem for horror lovers.

Will they be able to find a way out of their predicament …

So glad I have finally cleared my arcs to read list to finally sit down and read this one.
I know the author for her moving challenging Victorian tales, always loaded with exquisite descriptions and the right details, yet the previous one had already a different savior, darker and more tortured.

So, this story has the gloom of Jane Eyre with the ghastliness of Dracula. Why it offers two points of view, each managed a different way.
John’s at the third person, relating the present events and Bertha’s in an epistolary fashion at the first person recounting the past.
Until their lives collide and interfere in the other’s.

John is looking for an escape after his last post, but with no other choice than to accept the only answer he received from his ad, he must make do. It is how he lands in this secluded place where the nature presents the worst of the English weather. And to add insult to injury, his charges are not the young boys he expected, more like living corpse, than lively children.
But with time and patience, he slowly tries to breach through the walls surrounding those little sickly boys.
Bertha has longed to explore the world, a dream which became reachable only after the demise of her kin. So she plans to enjoy her freedom, thinking herself above others, cleverer to see past deceiving people. Still it will not protect her from making the same mistake as many others before her, letting a charming face and the right words lower her guard.

It is always enthralling when you know part of a story to wonder how this or that detail might be managed, in which way the second shoe would drop, as it will of course drop.
Why this is a read to savor while ensconced into a couch with a blanket, a drink and a pet not far away, even better in the bleakness of a stormy day . A delicious treat to indulge unabashedly and to shiver delightfully as two gothic tales blend to create a whole new one.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Perfectly Proper Press, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

PLEASE NOTE: the library blog link below will be live on July 19.

From the publisher: From author Mimi Matthews comes a supernatural Victorian gothic retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s timeless classic. Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he's ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John's new employer Bertha – a widow as alluring as she is mysterious. John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?

John Eyre is a mash-up retelling of Jane Eyre and another classic novel (I won't say which, as the name of the second novel is a spoiler for John Eyre's story). I read Jane Eyre a million years ago and have never read the second book, so don’t look to my review for whether John Eyre as a reworking of the pair does them justice. I didn’t like Jane Eye and remember almost nothing about it. I read this book because I’m a huge fan of Mimi Matthews and will read anything she writes. (If you want to be surprised, don’t read too much about this book – the name of the second novel is spoiled in numerous quotations about the book that I’ve seen.)

I did enjoy the gothic spookiness of John Eyre. The book includes flashbacks to Bertha Rochester’s marriage, and it is pretty obvious from early on the nature of Mr. Rochester’s secret. But there are mysteries about Mrs. Rochester and the boys. Mrs. Rochester and John Eyre don’t quite fall in insta-love, but they aren’t far from it. They hardly see other or talk before they spring into attraction and devotion. Bertha was a little too tortured and John a little too ready to fall under her spell, and I didn’t find either character especially compelling.

Still, Mimi Matthews is a good writer and overall John Eyre was a fun read. I especially liked tutor John Eyre’s relationship with his young charges. I appreciated the Victorian touches throughout the text, and knowing the author I’m sure the historical details were well researched. The story is nicely atmospheric:

“It was a chill January evening. The earth was damp beneath his booted feet, and the air was still. There was no one else about on the narrow country road. None he could see moving through the mists that gathered over the ground and along the trees. As he walked, twilight approached, lending an air of magic to the bleak winter landscape. He was but a mile from Thornfield in a lonely lane, the chief pleasure of which lay in its utter solitude. It led all the way to Hay at a slow incline, flanked by leafless trees and empty fields.” (p. 46 of the advance reader copy)

If you enjoy clean historical romance, I recommend John Eyre and the author’s other works. I read an advance reader copy of John Eyre from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be published on July 20 and will be available at the Galesburg Public Library in print and as an ebook.

Although John Eyre is quite different from Mimi Matthews’ other books, readers will still be entranced by her writing style and ability to weave a captivating tale. Even though I’m excited to get back to reading Matthews’ Victorian romances, John Eyre is delightfully creepy and is an intriguing retelling of two classic novels. I enjoyed it more than I expected, so I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction with supernatural elements. 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my opinion. I have to admit, I’ve never read all of Jane Eyre, which feels like a crime for a book lover. But, I know enough of it to get the references and compare it to John Eyre. This book was absolutely captivating! I finished it in two nights, which probably could’ve been one had I not been so tired. I promised myself that I would read small sections at a time, but I kept reading just a little more, then a little more, and then I couldn’t stop. I can’t got in to much detail without giving away my favorite part of the book, which is the combination of Jane Eyre with another classic novel. In this version, John Eyre accepts a position as tutor to Bertha Rochester’s wards…how she got them and the circumstances of Mr. Rochester form the mystery of the book which cannot be discussed without spoiling the surprise. You do figure it out pretty quickly, but Bertha herself remains such a mystery right up until the end. I definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of classic novels!

Mimi Matthews books are my happy place and this was just that. This gothic-like retelling of Jane Eyre was such a delight and creatively written.it was so good. It held a supernatural element that felt spooky. I enjoyed the strong, fearless heroine and the honorable hero. MM writes the best historical romances. She always delivers a wonderful tale of life, romance and HEA.
Even though I know the classic story well I eagerly threw myself into this because I couldn’t wait to see how John and Bertha would get through this. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Thanks Perfectly Proper Press via Netgalley.

What a unique take on a combination of stories. John Eyre is different from Mimi Matthews previous novels, but still shines with her gift for drawing the reader into the world. I loved the feisty heroine and the switching of roles with the hero being the teacher and the heroine being the world traveler.

The characters were well drawn, relatable, and compelling. The plot had suspense and intrigue woven throughout, keeping the reader guessing as to the outcome.

There were a few moments where I had to suspend disbelief. Who thinks there is a fire outside their house with smoke coming in, closes the windows, and returns to bed without making sure of the safety of the household? Even so, this didn't detract from the overall story.

I am a huge fan of Mimi Matthews books and look forward to the next one. I received a free copy of John Eyre through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn’t going to read this, because I don’t really like Jane Eyre or Dracula, but I had nothing else to read, and I needed something easy for a vacation. It’s about what I expected. A gender-flipped Jane Eyre (and Dracula) doesn’t really work for a lot of reasons. It might have been interesting if this was a loose retelling, rather than what was essentially a recreation.