A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Description: Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre… 


Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own… (to find out more info click here)


Epic Wins:

• A girl gets stuck in Jane Eyre's life? Give me that! I loved how Emma learned a lesson through becoming Jane. I love the idea that you could get sucked into a a book and actually be the character. I've been looking for this book all my life.
• Emma- She is a book nerd who would much rather read then be a guest at her 16th birthday party. She was someone I could really relate to.
• Gray- Long-time family friend who just happens to be high levels of cute. He has a bad reputation but does things that are so adorable- like waiting by her bedside till she wakes up- that make him hard to resist. 
• All the 'incidents- lightning strikes, fires, near drownings - that girl attracts all kinds of danger. 
• Beyond the Eyre-world, beyond the love story, beyond the coming of age crap is a story about a girl and her father and the doors that begin to open between them, doors that had been slammed shut years ago. 
• Owen and Michelle- Her closest friends who are there for her when she needs them most. The two of them have a relationship- though slightly rocky - which is adorable.
• Mont is a clever author tying a classic book with today's world and reminding us of their value. Her words do all the work and do not lack passion. I can't wait to read more of her stories. 
• The plot is layered like a cake with dimensions you don't see coming. The characters are like the frosting, light but solid, sweet but not too thick. Can you tell I want cake? (#obviously) Makes one heck of a cake though.  
• Message 1- No running in a thunder storm. No swimming during low tide. No running into a fire. I'm totally kidding but you should follow these suggestions regardless. 
• Message 2- Blocking communication causes havoc unnecessarily. Talk people, talk. 
• Quote- "Could I really marry Rochester and live at Thornfield for the rest of my life? Or did I have my own story to finish?A story that was only just beginning?" pg 181 (of the arc)

Overall: Two stories swirled into one relaying the same message. A lovely work of fiction that borders into reality. This book didn't live up to my expectations, it far surpassed them.


just sayin,
-Kare