Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Northanger Abbey

As a Jane Austen fan, it’s hard to find a flaw with her writing. The flow of her prose is well crafted and many lines are truly stunning. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Characters: 4.75⭐️/5

The characters were fun and refreshing. I enjoy that Austen’s protagonists always feel different, and Catherine was no different. I enjoyed her ignorance to the world around her that felt perfectly in line with someone of her age and class. Reading about her misunderstandings felt fun – even funny or horrifying – and I loved watching her opinion of everyone around her grow and change. Her toxic friend, Isabella, even felt alive on the page. I could understand how someone like that could infiltrate Catherine’s life. My only grievance is General Tilney, whose character seemed rushed towards change at the end for a snag in the plot. I didn’t hate the flow of this story, simply wish his reaction had been slightly more aligned with a “gentleman” as he was so heavily painted to be.

Plot: 4.25⭐️/5

The small, humorous, and innocent misunderstandings that directed the plot in the majority of the novel are directly contrasted with the seriousness of the final misunderstanding in a way that brought the story to life. I loved the lower stakes drama being outshone by the high stakes clash in the final moments of the story. I did, however, wish that more care had been given to the final moments of the romance. I missed having a big moment reminiscent of Pride & Prejudice or Emma. For this reason, I felt a bit let down by the ending.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of Jane Austen
Fans of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Those looking for a fun classic novel with slight hints of romance
Those who love MC with an overactive imagination

Content Warnings?

Misogyny, sexism, classism, death of a parent, death, illness, toxic relationships, toxic friendships,

Post-Reading Rating: 3.5⭐️/5

I felt like the romance was a bit of a let down, which bothered my when I turned the final page. I had fun, but I went into it expecting a bit more of a romantic pinnacle that never really came.

Final Rating: 4.5⭐️/5

Content Warnings

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

“I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
This is my third Jane Austen novel to date, and probably one of my favorites. The humor, wit, and satirical premise displays once again the overall genius of Austen’s writing, a feat which I cannot wait to explore more in the future.
Northanger Abby follows Catherine throughout her experiences in bath and directly after, as she comes of age with a unique cast of characters and settings very much contrasting to her usual home environment. While readers get a glimpse of society life through a scathing social commentary of prior England, we can also see the cognitive dissonance between growing up and maintaining innocence, a marker of youth today. The characters are such a defining quality in Austen’s ability to stay popular for centuries past her life. We understand them and it feels as if they would understand us.
One thing I would have loved to see more of is the gothic elements-I felt like they took a back seat in the story-but nevertheless, I thought Northanger Abby was wonderful.

Content Warnings