A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun and special book, well-written and generally well-supported. I enjoyed learning new things about one of my favorite authors in this mix of literary analysis and biography. Some of the analysis is a reach and less supported by evidence, and some readers will likely wish to skip the chapter on Austen-inspired erotica. Overall, however, I enjoyed this book and its fresh interpretation of Jane Austen's life and work. I applaud Devoney Looser for careful research into some never-before-known writings related to Austen, and I was particularly fascinated by her discussion of abolitionism in the Austen family. I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads, and will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon within one week of the book's publication date.

I’m of two minds about Devoney Looser’s WILD FOR AUSTEN.

On one hand it’s extensively researched and I learned a number of new things about Austen’s extended family and what may (or may not) have been her connections to them, as well as the literature she may have been aware of before, and as, she wrote her own juvenilia and novels. [As this is the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth, a spate of Austen tomes are slated for publication, or recently published, so a nod to the recent JANE AUSTEN’S BOOKSHELF would be a good companion read for WILD FOR AUSTEN.]

It is currently a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen was no recluse and that she was far more socially active and locally travelled than formerly believed; and that the Victorian view of her life (even the versions penned by her relations) was of its era, written for those senses and sensibilities, wherein spinsters were expected to chastely stick to their own domestic spheres.

The problem lies with Ms. Looser’s shoehorning the word “Wild” into every chapter and verse, hitting each mention in Austen’s texts, including correspondence by and about her—and then to describe it, as if to prove her point that Jane Austen (and a number of her heroines) were “wild.” Yet Looser omits salient discussions of truly “wild” supporting characters such as Mary Crawford and Lydia Bennet) when it would serve her better than stretching her theme past plausibility. If every character bears some kernel of an author’s personality, might those women in her “wild” supporting casts not be worth an examination?

WILD FOR AUSTEN seeks to find its footing tonally as well. Some sections are quite academic with lots of names and dates tossed at the reader, while others veer into colloquialisms (“fangirling”). And perhaps the e-book offered through NetGalley is an ARC still being reviewed for edit; but I had to re-read a few sentences more than once to understand what was being stated, as they were not full, grammatical sentences.

While “Wild” might be the hook that sells the book, it does the actual contents a disservice. On the whole, I found myself wishing for a different title as WILD FOR AUSTEN sets up great expectations that the author too often strains to fulfill. Yet her book discusses family connections not previously explored and provides a wealth of fascinating detail about Jane and her distant relations (some of whom were also aspiring or published authors). WILD FOR AUSTEN is really a study of Jane: smart, snarky, observant, and irreverent, within her own wider world.

[I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest, uncompensated review. My review, thoughts, and opinions are entirely my own.]

This is an interesting look at not only Jane Austen's books, but also her family, extended family, awareness of social and political topics, and "afterlife" of the way people have responded to her through the years. I will say that I find the labels "rebellious" and "subversive" to be a bit click-baity and somewhat of an oversell, though I don't question that Austen did have opinions and experiences that definitely go beyond what people usually imagine. I found the chapters on her family and acquaintances to be the most fresh and educational part of the book.

Very well-researched, and interesting biography on the legend that is Jane Austen. I liked how this book was split into 3 sections, and covered her works, and personal life, but with information I had never heard before, or from a new perspective. I really enjoyed it, and the mention of the modern twists on her classic works. Would definitely recommed to Austen fans. The cover is amazing, too! *winky face*

A funny and original look at Jane Austen’s life, work, and legacy. The author debunks the myth of Jane Austen as a quiet spinster, revealing a wilder, more complex figure and the surprising ways she's left her mark on history. A must-read for Austen fans!

Whether you’re a lifelong Janeite or just dabbling in bonnet-lit, this one’s a wickedly fun ride through Austen’s wild side.

A gorgeously written, rigorously researched portrait of Jane Austen and her impact by esteemed scholar Devoney Looser, who adds profound insights and a unique look at our favorite novelist. In sum: Jane was an untamed rebel! Who knew?