Book Review: My Dearest Miss Fairfax

Are you a Jane Austen fan? One of Jane Austen’s famous works is Emma. A lot of people don’t particularly like the character of Emma Woodhouse. Austen herself said, “I’m going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” However, I don’t really have a problem with Emma personally! I know some see her as prideful and unlikeable with her matchmaking schemes and dislike of the innocent Jane Fairfax, but I personally don’t think a lot of what Emma does is intentionally hurtful. She’s not the kind of character who wants to pair everyone up because she thinks she knows love better than anyone else. In fact, she says she has no intention to marry herself (of course that changes later). And her dislike of Jane really stems in the fact that everyone just assumes they’ll be the best of friends and should spend time together because they’re around the same age. I compare it to when you’re younger and you feel like you’re being forced to be friends with a family friend’s kid because you’re both the same gender and around the same age. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with them, but you rebel because you don’t like being told what to do. At least, that’s how I see it.

Anyway, Jeannette Watts wrote My Dearest Miss Fairfax, which is a really entertaining novel told from Jane Fairfax’s point of view during the events that take place in Emma.

I really enjoyed the novel! It was fun to see things from Jane’s perspective and especially since if you’re read Emma then you know she was secretly engaged to Frank Churchill. Through the novel we get to see how she met Frank and their secret relationship mostly told through letters and little stolen moments when no one was watching. It was very sweet and I could feel Jane’s anxiety and sadness when it was taking forever for Frank to be able to formally propose due to family issues.

If you’re a fan of Emma and/or Jane Austen and like reading books that are told from a different perspective, check out My Dearest Miss Fairfax!

*This book was sent to me complimentary, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.*