The Manor House Governess appealed to me straight away due to the homage to classic literature from the Brontë sisters and Jane Austen because from an early age, I was obsessed with the beauty of their world both that they lived in and the fiction they crrated Alongside that, there was the knowledge that the main character was genderfluid which we need to see more of in all forms of literature.

Everything about this appealed from the moment I read the blurb and wanted to get my hands on it as soon as I could because as a nonbinary person, I wanted to read a book where I could relate to the character even a little. I definitely resonated with how Brontë found comfort in clothing, which would be frowned upon, although for me, it was reverse - suits rather than skirts whereas our delicate Brontë often shines in his second hand dresses and shawls... I also loved the drawings throughout the book to show our protagonist in some of his favourite outfits. It's always lovely to show it's okay just as much as say it after all.

As much as I loved the orphaned Brontë whose life mirrors Eyre's for the most part; I did sometimes find the modern setting and phrasing of things quite disconcerting at first. Perhaps I expected the comfort he felt in his reading to continue not just in elements of how he dressed but in the way he spoke etctera. I just couldn't see Brontë Ellis (and I have to say again the nod to the trio of literary sisters with this name is lovely...) using slang nor relishing in technology, but he does. However, despite this and the somewhat slow start to The Manor House Governess, I began to relish the immersive detail  C.A. Castle has gone to, to bring the beauty of Cambridge to life and those who live there.

When we meet the Edwards family, whom Brontë becomes a Governess for? I knew we were in for a chaotic and troublesome time... because there is that link to Jane Eyre, and if Brontë is our twenty-first century Jane, then the brooding and somewhat evasive Darcy is indeed Mr Rochester. (My favourite Austen gentleman because he's far far from perfect... the original grey man to me.)  With Ada is a sweet and bubbly child who is enthusiastic and curious about pretty much everything she encounters and she's the breath of fresh air that runs throughout the book even when she's sad herself she's aware of others around her and I adored her. Her simple acceptance of Brontë is also so lovely to witness from the page, I liked how she wanted to know what he was comfortable with, and that was that.

Alongside the modern aspects of social acceptance of those who don't follow traditional gender and sexual preferences with Brontë who is genderfluid, a transgender character along with characters who are gay, bisexual or pansexual and how that may affect those around them? There was the modern take on the tales written by Austen or Brontë with the gothic elements of, say, Northanger Abbey, Jane Eyre, or Vilette. I did think at times we lost sight of the true unsettling darkness that came with that kind of tale, as there was a lot of focus placed upon Brontë finding himself both within his employment/friendship within the Edwards family as he's rarely treated like an employee, and in Cambridge itself as our orphan hasn't travelled far. If you're looking for a modern Jane Eyre, it isn't quite that, nor does the author match Charlotte's sheer level of drama.. 

The will they/won't they between Darcy and Brontë is perfect for those who love a slow-burn romance with a plethora of mysteries, complications, and denial. It will frustrate, and you're going to wish Brontë would look elsewhere, but it's very much a heart wants what it wants.

Despite drawing on classic literature, C.A. Castle has created an original LGBTQIA tale that is lovely, the characters are diverse, wonderfully written and they bring Cambridge to life and I felt a brilliant sense of familiarity as I read this tale of love, acceptance and forgiveness amongst many other elements of humanity.