love miss Austen but yes-I AM ELINOR

I loved the way Austen weaves together humor, romance, and social commentary, making the story feel both timeless and incredibly relatable. The characters are beautifully drawn—Elinor’s sense and Marianne’s sensibility contrast so perfectly, and their journeys feel authentic and moving. The plot flows wonderfully, though at times it felt a bit slow in the middle, and some of the social intricacies required careful attention. But honestly, those little details are part of what makes Austen so brilliant—they add layers to the story and make the eventual triumphs all the more satisfying. What really stayed with me was Austen’s ability to balance wit and insight. She made me laugh, made me sigh, and made me reflect on human nature in a way that felt effortless. It’s a book I’d happily read again, and it’s given me a newfound appreciation for her work. If I’m being picky, the pacing and occasional heavy social exposition keep me from giving it a full five stars—but it’s an absolute classic for a reason.

Definitely a cute summer read (Yes, I know that I read it in January). Lovestory was very cute and I am a fan of no third-act-breakup. It wasn’t revolutionary but I still would recommend. And fake dating gets me every time, what can I say?

I had noticeable difficulties getting into the first half of the book. The story did not really draw me in for a long time, mainly because I could not warm to the characters. A lot of things felt rushed. Relationships developed too quickly, there was too much chaos, and above all I found almost all of the men dreadful. Marianne, in particular, was very unlikeable to me at the beginning. She came across as extremely naive and completely driven by her emotions. However, her development and realisation towards the end make it clear how much selfishness was present in her behaviour and how much the family suffered because of it. This turns her into a character one can learn a great deal from. One should not forget that she is still very young. A clear opposite for me is Elinor, who is also my favourite character. Her self-control, her sense of responsibility, and above all the way she protects her family, especially Marianne, show how strong sisterly love can be, even when it is quiet and restrained. The way my namesake Lucy behaved towards her was extremely uncomfortable to read. It showed how important marriage was for women and that people were willing to walk over others for it. A strong negative portrayal of society at the time. Willoughby is, to me, the definition of a spineless personality. I found him unpleasant. His behaviour is selfish and manipulative. His appearance at the end and his supposed explanations for why he hurt Marianne so deeply did not feel honest to me at all. Instead, I had the impression that he was trying to protect his male ego. Toxic masculinity clearly existed back then as well. In my eyes, these excuses made him even more uncomfortable, as he wanted to appear better at any cost. Naturally, one can once again see how forward-thinking Jane Austen’s writing was. For its time, this novel was definitely a forerunner of feminist ideas. I did not expect anything else from Jane Austen. Nevertheless, this book has its weaknesses and cannot count among my personal highlights. It is an important classic with strong themes, but not my favourite Austen novel. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My favourite Jane Austen book — so so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!