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First Impressions

a Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen
Jul 18, 2015amatrixlibrorum rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The book follows two timelines: 18th century England with Jane Austen and an elderly clergyman, Richard Mansfield, as main characters and 21st century with Sophie Collingwood and her family and friends as main characters. When the book begins, Jane Austen is writing her first draft of what would become Sense and Sensibility. She meets and develops a warm friendship with Richard Mansfield, who becomes a mentor and help in her writing. Sophie Collingwood has just graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Literature and is at loose ends as to her future when she receives an unexpected legacy and starts work in an antiquarian bookshop. Soon the two timelines become intertwined when two customers ask Sophie to find a second edition of a book by Richard Mansfield. This was a fun book for anyone who loves Jane Austen, old books, and mysteries. I really enjoyed the plot, the descriptions and love for books, the relationship between Sophie and her sister, Victoria, the mystery itself, and especially the friendship between Jane Austen and Richard Mansfield. I would have liked to see more interaction between Sophie and Victoria. The writing was a bit cliched at times and the mystery was fairly obvious, however, it was fun to read and had a charm about it, especially for me, who loves Jane Austen and old books and mysteries.