A gothic gender bent retelling of Jane Eyre?? I'm in. Mimi Matthews re-imagines beloved classic Jane Eyre with a Dracula twist. John Eyre responds to an ad seeking a tutor for two wards of Mrs Rochester at Thornfield Hall. Upon his arrival he discovers the children are withdrawn, and the mistress of the house aloof and intriguing.

This retelling hits all the major beats of the original while providing a paranormal twist. I think Matthews' narrative is most successful in its retelling versus the reimagining. The structure of the novel borrows from both Bronte's Eyre, and Stoker's Dracula allowing the audience to see into Bertha's perspective through her letters and journals while relying on John's present day observations. The paranormal twist comes so near the end it doesn't allow the audience to sit enough in the suspense to create a foreboding atmosphere. I still found this an enjoyable read, and would recommend it other gothic fans, and self-proclaimed Jane Eyre aficionados.

Thank you as always to Netgalley for an advanced copy to review, and most effusively this time. John Eyre ticked all the boxes for me and gets a well-deserved five stars.

Listen, this book opens over a grave, as if the goth aesthetics were raising their hands and shouting “I’m here! I’m here!” and I mean that in the best way. I don’t know how she does it, but I enjoy every new novel of Mimi Matthews’ more than the last. This one was an experimental foray into a new genre, and I absolutely loved it. I have never been one to shy away from covers of old classics, and this novel threaded together some of my favorite classic literature in a way that made it a totally unique project for Mimi Matthews, and somehow even more my style than her usual fare.

A pair of creepy Victorian children, a rundown manor, and persistent mists coating the estate – the recipe was here for a delightful gothic tale, and that is what we got, with the added benefits of modern, faster pacing. I found John Eyre a full-bodied tale that uses the bones of Jane Eyre and early gothic superstars like Le Fanu’s work to great effect. We enter the spooky Millcote Mists with John, are baffled by noises and voices in the walls alongside him, and are amazed by the fortitude of Mrs. Rochester with him.

I also love how organically you can learn real stuff from Mimi’s novels, and this one was no exception. Mimi’s scholarship forever deserves applause after every book. In all my reading of Victorian classics and long hours poring over BBC drama series, I had never once encountered a box bed, until this book. There was a little Egyptology and a little Slavic folklore, too, all topics that were up my alley.

One last thing of note – take the time to read the author’s note. Mimi’s always incredibly insightful in these, and I was so interested to read why she chose to write this, sharing many similar feelings on the development of Mr. Rochester from my early readings of Jane Eyre, to what I think now. Indeed, this book utilizes a fresh take on Mr. Rochester that is far bolder in its condemnation of him than even the Wide Sargasso Sea; this was an interesting spin that contributed to the tension of the entire story. Mimi’s shoutout to narrative covers and fanfic was also well appreciated.

I have nothing but praise for this book, go forth and order if you’d like to feel some early Halloween chills during this hot summer!

JOHN EYRE was something a little different from the historical romances I’ve read from Mimi Matthews before: a gender-flipped retelling, a more Gothic atmosphere and (I think?) the first male POV I’ve spotted.

The POV was something I actually really enjoyed and pretty ambitious. It’s dual POV, with John and Mrs Rochester alternating. John is in the ‘present’ with a standard third-person. Mrs Rochester’s first-person POV tells the flashbacks to her first marriage in letter, and then, diary format. I really liked the touch with the diary/ letters as it gave a real ‘feel’ of a classic novel and a nod to the source material. It might just be my reading tastes, but I feel like epistolary novels were much more popular in the past than they are now, so this (along with Matthews writing style) really sunk me into the time-period.

Matthews historical romances always feel spot on with the time-period, and JOHN EYRE is no different, so I’ll focus more on the retelling aspect. I really liked the way the two novels were combined (and the author’s note makes an interesting read). The gender-switch was an interesting twist, although I felt that (in terms of doing something interesting with the original) it was Mrs Rochester’s character, in her sections, that was the more compelling to watch. It was intriguing to see the dynamic of the ‘other’ classic JOHN EYRE retells, played out with a female lead. There are two mysteries running throughout the story, one in each timeline, and the build-up of tension in the ‘you know what’s coming but how and when… dun dun dun’ is played out brilliantly.

The Gothic atmosphere and setting – the mysteries, the mist, the isolated house with something spooky definitely going on around our clueless not-Damsel in Distress – was done wonderfully and, as a fan of Gothic novels, I really enjoyed it! The only minor gripe I would make is that I didn’t love the romance in this one as much as I have in her previous novels, but the rest of the story makes up for that, and it’s more ‘click’ and personal taste than a real criticism.

Mimi Matthews never disappoints! John Eyre was a very moving and suspenseful retelling. I loved the supernatural atmosphere and the dueling timelines worked very well.

John Eyre is not my usual type of fiction. Mimi Matthews is a prolific and well loved author of Victorian romance novels. But I was intrigued by the description and decided to give it a go. Not a typical romance novel (what I call the pink and purples) and not a typical horror novel, John Eyre is a clever but very derivative mashup of two classics that are so familiar that I would swear there were scenes lifted almost word for word from the originals. For fans of Matthews, this will come as an unusual treat.

'John felt as old as creation. Weary in body and soul.'

When I read a Mimi Matthews book, I am simply carried away by her words that just flow across the page so smoothly, gliding effortlessly along and completely captivated me until the book is finished.

This book, John Eyre, is quite different from her usual Victorian fare. Oh, it's Victorian, but it's dark and broodingly Gothic. Creepily good, I might add. Here, we have a twist of the Bronte story of Jane Eyre . A very good twist, might I add, too.

John Eyre arrives at Thornfield as a tutor to Mrs. Rochester's two young wards. He immediately notices something quite strange about these boys. Soon after, he meets Mrs. Rochester and following an even stranger conversation with her, he is very mystified. Nothing is as it seems about this entire odd place. I found Bertha's journal entries to be totally compelling.

'Suddenly, he felt quite tempted to laugh-or possibly, to weep. Was it madness, what was happening to him?'

Matthews builds this story so well and adds layer after layer until the reader is completely all in. Actually, this reader was all in from the very first page. As time passes in the book, we begin to unravel the mystery a bit and are totally caught up in the drama, desperately riveted to each page. Her prose, in all her books, carries the reader along like water flowing downstream. Quite a compelling read and one I am glad to add to my collection. Well done indeed!

My thanks to Perfectly Proper Press for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. I was not expected to leave a positive review. The opinion here is expressly my own.

John Eyre is another wonderful book by Mimi Matthews - she is an awesome writer in both fiction and nonfiction and has a great knowledge of the 1800s. John Eyre is just what a reader expects - moody and gothic but with Matthews creativity and strong characters. The women in her books are all strong and speak with clarity. The characters have authenticity but the book also has the 'spirit' of a Bronte book. Matthews is an auto-purchase for me, even though I am not a fan of fiction from this era. Can't recommend her enough and among her books, John Eyre is now one of my favorites!

Book title: John Eyre
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Publication Date: 20 July 2021
Review Date: 3 June 2021 on Goodreads

My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

I absolutely love Jane Eyre - so much so - it was a re-read for me earlier this year.
Mimi Matthews has combined Jane Eyre with another to produce this Victorian gothic tale and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Be sure to read it!

This was an enthralling book, which had me on tenterhooks for our hero John, a man with a bleak and difficult past and a tortured present. But throughout out all, he relentlessly strives to be the best man he can be, steadfast and honourable, despite his shortcomings, his fears, and his weaknesses. It is ultimately this, that attracts and I think, helps save our heroine, after her own ordeal finally brings her back to her family home to face, as they say, the final conflict. A tale yes, of a strong woman who overcomes great evil and adversity, but also of the man she needed by her side, the type of men we all need; true men of honor who love us and stand for what is right and true and good. Excellent. The atmospheric description of the house and the children are first rate. Bravo Ms. Matthews. This isn't just a reimagining of Jane Eyre but an original story in its own right.

“Not everything at Thornfield is quite what it seems.”

This was my first read by this author and definitely won’t be my last, the writing was so enthralling and I found myself on the edge of my seat flipping through the e-pages. John Eyre is a gender-flipped retelling of Jane Eyre but it isn’t only that gothic classic this story is based on...which I can’t name without spoiling things. 😆 But omg did I flip for this one, these are 2 of my fav stories retold together and I really enjoyed this ride! The author’s note at the end described perfectly why these 2 stories blend really well together and I cannot unsee it now. This was deliciously dark, grisly, hauntingly romantic, gothic, and supernatural...

John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to become a tutor for 2 young boys who are the wards of the widow, Mrs. Rochester. The misty fog, odd noises that go bump in the night, his two pupils who do not speak, a mysterious employer, strange creatures on the moor, and all sorts of disturbing things keeping John up at night. While caring for the two young boys during the day, John also finds himself drawn to the mercurial Mrs. Rochester. The story jumps between chapters with John’s POV to chapters of Bertha’s letters and journals starting 16-months prior when she first met and married her husband Edward Rochester and the demise of that relationship. Lots of secrets, demons of the past, danger, gothic imagery, and the eternal struggle between light & darkness.

I loved the chapters told by Bertha’s letters and diary entries. While this closely followed both of the classics it’s based on and even having read both multiple times each, I was just so engrossed with the story and what would happen next in both John’s POV and Bertha’s chapter entries. I would even say this is a tad bit darker with more descriptive writing than both source materials and I really enjoyed it! It was familiar, but felt fresh in the way the two stories were intertwined.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. John Eyre will be published July 20, 2021.

I love a good retelling and this one was pretty great! The suspense and gothic atmosphere were fun and well written. I enjoyed this book.

What a deliciously dark and sinister retelling of a beloved classic! It has the secure familiarity of the original while being wholly new and enthralling at the same time. I loved the storytelling combination of John Eyre's point of view for the present and Bertha's letters and journal entries for the past. The suspense built at the perfect pace as the story unfolded. I loved reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for access to this arc!

I’ve always been a fan of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre so the prospect of reading a gender-flipped version appealed to me. Then I found out that Mimi Matthews’ John Eyre also had elements of Bram Stoker’s Dracula - well, that made it a definite must-read for sure.

John Eyre is a creepy and enthralling tale that combines all the best dark elements of gothic tales, isolated house and all, and weaves a story that I loved getting lost in. Kudos to Mimi Matthews for taking on the challenge of retelling Jane Eyre and Dracula. I loved everything absolutely it: the moody setting, the voices of the narrators, the sense of dread, the richness of the characters. Can’t wait to see if she’ll treat us to another retelling!

This is a difficult book to review for a couple of reasons, not least is that it relies on plot surprises best left to the reading experience. I did enjoy the supernatural atmosphere of the story, and for the most part, dueling time lines worked well here too.

What didn't work for me may not be an issue for other readers. The book is a retelling of two classic British Victorian novels, and when I say "retelling," I do mean almost verbatim retelling rather than interpretation. The fact that the cast of characters are gender swapped is not nearly as interesting or original as I had hoped and may actually have been a significant impediment to my enjoyment. I know the literary fiction too well and scenes that I've read many times are simply restated here with casts of characters having a gender change. To say it felt redundant is understating the surprising frustration I felt as I tried unsuccessfully to block out the original books. I liken this experience to having once seen a live performance of Coreolanus right after the Iraq War began. It was set in the desert with all the actors wearing combat fatigues. But simply dressing up Renaissance characters in modern dress didn't add as much to the play as one would think. Ultimately, I couldn't get out of my own head while reading Matthews's new book because I kept mentally placing each scene in Jane Eyre alongside the same scene in John Eyre, except Jane is now John, etc. It kind of went that way for the whole book and proved to be a challenging and even somewhat unhappy read for me. My advice is to avoid the origin texts and go into this fresh if at all possible because then I do think the book could be quite entertaining.

As much as I love the classic Jane Eyre, I just could not get into this book. I finally gave up at 23%. I'm not sure why I just couldn't connect, The writing is lovely as is Matthews' storytelling style and I've enjoyed other books written by her. Regardless, I thank you for the preview and best wishes with the launch.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

What a remarkable retelling of two classics! I will never look at Jane Eyre the same way again. The melding of the two stories fits entirely together and what's not to like about a gender bender take? Mrs. Rochester steals the show despite a man being the MC. To be honest, I really love Jane Eyre's original character and having her gone in the story is a little sad, but we're given justice for characters that originally were put on the side lines.

A bit of advice, you probably don't want to read either classics right before reading this one as the story is almost an exact replica where it counts. I did not start this knowing exactly what I was going into, and I made the mistake of having both stories already refreshed in my mind and so the plot and pacing were a bit redundant. That doesn't mean I didn't appreciate what the stories does! (Thus the 4 stars out of 5).

Absolutely fantastic read!! I very much enjoyed this book and read it as fast as I could! Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for this read!!

An entrancing and otherworldly retelling of Jane Eyre

John Eyre is a gender-reversed retelling of Jane Eyre in which an honorable and dutiful tutor works for a widow hiding a dangerous secret.

Mimi Matthews is one of my favorite authors, and it was so exciting to see her venturing into the gothic and supernatural.

John Eyre keeps all the mystery and darkness of its predecessor. With a dash of otherwordly events, it enhances the sense of helplessness and foreboding but, at the same time, keeps the reader in a safe place, secure in the knowledge of a happy outcome.

John, like Jane, was raised at an orphanage and was used to be mistreated by his 'betters.' After an unfortunate event, he was forced to leave his employment and became the tutor of Mrs. Rochester's wards.

I simply loved Stephen and Peter. They were so forlorn and sick-looking, but their strength shined from within. John's relationship with the boys was so sweet and endearing that it made me forget the haunted place and the strange noises that could be heard from the third floor.

Bertha, Mrs. Rochester, was a force to be reckoned with. I loved that the author kept the original name. This time Bertha was in charge, and the tables were definitively turned.

The story is beautifully written, the descriptions immersive and captivating, and the characters layered and relatable. A wonderful read for all Jane Eyre fans!

Highly recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 07/20/2021*

What a clever book! It's a blending of two Classics, with a twist, and it is a fascinating Victorian Gothic.. The story is told from the perspective of both main characters, which is an unusual style. I found it enthralling. . 4-1/2 stars
I received an ARC on NetGalley for my honest opinion. Thank you.

Always risky to take a beloved classic and reimagine it. This novel successfully does just that with not one but two classics. I wouldn't necessarily classify it as a mystery, it was obvious from the get go, but nevertheless, it was a perfectly enjoyable Gothic retelling.