Not only should the author stay true to the original, s/he should also make this new book original, give it an identity of its own. Retellings are a difficult thing, especially if the retelling is of a book like Jane Eyre.

I think I will give the original another chance and see what happens. Overall, if you are a Jane Eyre fan, I think you will enjoy this. There are some drug and sexual references in this, so I can't recommend it to everyone. I think I would have liked him more, had I known more about him from the beginning. I didn't like how so much of his life was secret, even from Jane. I'm not sure why, maybe it is because I am not familiar with the original and I'm missing something. There was just something about him that I didn't connect with. As far as Nico, I couldn't figure out if I liked him or not. I wanted her to be happy, no matter what path she chose.

She is already strong and independent (her family situation makes her so) and through her relationship with Nico, she learns what true love means. I think if you are Jane Eyre fan, you will really enjoy this adaptation. I did like the modern take on this story. The premise of Jane intrigued me, a young girl with no other options goes to work as the nanny for a handsome rock star and ends up falling in love with him.

So I am reviewing this book without the original in my head to compare it to. I'm going to admit to you right away that I don't think I have ever read Jane Eyre all the way through, which is the story that Jane is based on.

Jane by April Lindner