My Favourite Jane Austen Retelling to Date! Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins

It is almost impossible to put into words how much I LOVED “HEARTS, STRINGS, AND OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS!” It is one of the best books I have read in a long time across all genres and it may take first place in my library of YA retellings and YA contemporary! It is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, and it is so well done! It also became my top Jane Austen retelling ever (and I have read ALOT of Jane Austen retelling.)

Jacqueline Firkins did an incredible job of modernizing the entire story of Mansfield Park from start to finish. She had me laughing out loud throughout the entire retelling. First of all, I liked that the names were not changed too much. It was much easier to follow along with the story, if you are familiar with Mansfield Park. She took Franny Price and turned her into Edie Price. I loved seeing Edie break out a little more. She still held her moral ground, but she was a little more open minded. Some may say that ruins the integrity of Edie/Fanny price, but I do not see it that way. I think Firkins stayed true to the overall character of Edie/Fanny and made Edie a little more relatable to the modern reader. I was surprised by the character growth in Edie, but I felt it important for the more timid reader. You can still be yourself, hold to your morals, and still grow and learn in life. 

I enjoyed what a book worm Edie was in the book, especially when it came to classics. She even had a few classic movies thrown in for fun! For the books and authours I have not read, I have made them an even bigger priority. Some of these authours and books mentioned are: The Chronicles of Narnia, Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, George Eliot, The Great Gatsby, Villette, Jane Eyre, Bleak House, W.B. Yeats, Adam Bede, The Twelfth Night, Alexandre Dumas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mary Shelley, and of course Jane Austen herself! I loved they pretended to play Narnia! I became instant friends with the characters in that moment! For those who find the original character of Franny Price dull and boring, I think you will be surprised and fall in love with Edie Price!

The story was adapted by featuring an upscale neighbourhood and school. I liked the use of social media in this story. It was used, but not overdone. I was glad the characters did not just sit on their phones the entire story. That would be boring. 

THIS NEXT PART OF THE REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ MANSFIELD PARK AND/OR HEARTS, STRINGS, AND OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things was a nice change from other books I have been reading. This story is the first time I have ever wanted Edie/Fanny Price to end up with Henry instead of Sebastian/Edmund! I found myself rooting for Henry by the end of the story. I applauded Edie’s boldness in asking Henry to prom! I found Edie relatable in the fact I usually had more guy friends compared to girlfriends. I was SHOCKED at how much of a role the locket played in the story. 

I really hope you will consider picking up a copy of Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins. It is a true gem among all the other incredible Jane Austen retellings. I hope this will show another side of Fanny Price and how truly amazing Mansfield Park is as a novel to readers who often criticize it. I cannot wait for more books by Firkins! I just want to read this book all over again! Easiest 5 star rating I have given out in a long time! 

Thank you so much to Net Galley, HMH Books for Young Readers, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for this review copy. I asked for a copy of this e-book for review purposes. In no way does this alter my review or thoughts on the book. The review is 100% my own! I loved it so much I did PURCHASE MY OWN COPY when it was released! That should give you even more insight into how much I loved this story!