The Jane Austen and Brontes Newsletter Issue #4 Recapping "Love & Jane"
tl;dr Super cute but lacks couple chemistry
Premise: Lilly, a hopeless romantic and literary enthusiast, is surprised when her wish to talk to her favorite author comes true and Jane Austen herself appears in her life.
Story: When we meet Lilly (Alison Sweeney), she’s at her local bookstore, Scribbler’s, needing a copy of an Austen book (not mentioned which one). As she pulls an Austen book out the bookshelf, Trevor (Benjamin Ayres,) the bookseller, pulls the book out of her hand and tells her someone has already bought the book but online. A heated discussion occurs before Lilly leaves to her Jane Society meeting. She’s the president.
After a lively discussion of the meeting, Lilly finds out from Mr. Whitcomb, the pub owner, that he is retiring and the place has been sold. Dismayed, she and her best friend discuss what they are going to do. Lilly is upset to as it was one of the few Old English Pubs in Boston that were not Celtic game heavy and full of sports balls fanatics.
We next find Lilly at a restaurant with her boyfriend, Martin, who tells her that he’s got a promotion but it’s in Chicago. He asks Lilly to move with him since the group is apparently ending and she hates her job. Martin proposes but she declines. He asks her what Jane would do, and wouldn’t it be something about changes? She could quit her job and write. They could go to England! Lilly responds that Jane’s books are about not being forced to do something she didn’t want to do.
Lilly goes home, drinks her Tom Collins, and tosses her manuscripts into the trash and says that she’ll never write like Jane. Lilly falls asleep on the couch, not sober obviously, and then wakes up to a woman in Regency period dress (possibly not period correct) standing over her. Lilly jumps up and threatens to call someone and most definitely not her boyfriend. The woman tells Lilly that she knows very well who she is. As Lilly blusters, the woman disappears.
At work, Lilly talks to her best friend, Alisha, and asks her if she’s been exhibiting hallucinations? Alisha says no. As part of the creative team at their company, they are called into a meeting after finding out an app entrepreneur has purchased the local favorite bookstore, the very one that Lilly was at finding an Austen book of course. Surprise, it’s Trevor the bookseller! Trevor needs a new campaign for this new app he’s developing for people to share and buy their favorite books. Including books! Imagine that.
Lilly swoons.
Later that night, Martin, possibly not sober, knocks on Lilly’s door wanting to work things out. Lilly stalls him telling him she has a roommate (Jane) and shuts the door in his face. When Lilly gets ready for bed, Jane is in her bedroom. They depart to the living room where Lilly teaches Jane to dance the quadrille (I think) and dispenses advice on men.
(Sweeney is nearing 50. Wouldn’t Lilly have some kind of idea by this point in her life?)
At work the next day, Lilly confides to Alisha in the storage closet what is going on with Jane and Alisha says hey, let’s put Jane to work! How?! Who else knows about books and could help with the campaign then Jane? Great idea, Lilly says!
After work, Lilly is called to the Old English Pub as Mr. Whitcomb has a great idea! Why not use Scribbler’s as a meeting place for the Jane Society and the owner will let them use it for free. Lilly is stoked! Until Trevor walks in and she finds out Mr Whitcomb is suggesting Scribbler’s! She wavers and Trevor insists. Sunday it is!
Later on, Lilly and Alisha go to Brendan, a co-worker, home to discuss the campaign they are collaborating on. Brendan suggests that they do away with books to drive people to the app or something? Lilly and the best friend gasp. They convince Brendan that is a terrible idea. Smitten with Lilly, this keeps getting mentioned in the movie, he agrees. As they wait for their ride shares, Alisha tries to convince Lilly to flirt with Brendan now that Lilly and Martin have broken up. Lilly demurs.
That night, Jane and Lilly get into a fight about what Lilly should do with her life. Jane hands Lilly one of Lilly’s manuscripts and tells her to stop working at night and work on her manuscript instead. Lilly gets mad and asks Jane that what if she fails? Jane huffs at the fight and leaves.
The following day, at the Jane Society meeting at Scribbler’s, Trevor has laid out an English feast and Lilly calls him smug. During the meeting, the Society notes that Lilly isn’t herself so she changes the topic to discuss what’s really on her mind. Without naming Alisha, Lilly launches that her friend is having difficulties as her family is trying to arrange her marriage and she’s thinks she’s too young to settle down. The Society suggest that Lilly simply support her friend and Lilly agrees that’s a great idea.
The meeting breaks up.
Lilly wanders around the bookstore and comes across Trevor. They argue about Jane. Trevor says her work is too simplistic and Lilly argues Trevor down. Jane now appears to Lilly and asks Lilly to defend her which she does. Trevor concedes that Lilly has made some very good points.
At work the next day, Lilly enters her office and finds Jane sitting there waiting for her. Jane wants to see what Lilly does all day!
Finally feeling inspired, Lilly works on her novel when Brendan storms into her office. He has something to say and he must tell her. Lilly sputters that Brendan doesn’t need to tell her anything. Brendan insists he must! Lilly is horrified until Brendan declares HE IS IN LOVE WITH ALISHA!
Relieved he’s not in love with her, Lilly insists that Brendan must tell Alisha how he feels. Brendan asserts what if he does and Alisha doesn’t feel the same? He would be beyond heartbroken. Besides, Alisha’s parents are arranging dates for Alisha and what if she says no?
The next ten minutes is of Lilly manipulating Alisha and Brendan to be together and surprise surprise, they are smitten with each other.
We next find Lilly at Old English Pub thanking Mr. Whitcomb for a wonderful retirement party while he hands her a G & T. After finishing her drink, Lilly leaves the pub only to stumble into Trevor who is heading his way into the pub. Trevor is holding an Austen book and Lilly is impressed that Trevor is reading Austen again. He suggests the talk a walk and then puts his jacket around her shoulders.
Lilly tells Trevor that she finished her novel and he’s super proud of her! She should find a publisher! Lilly wavers because what if she gets a rejection? She couldn’t handle it. Then we have the first proper tension moment where they look at each other and almost kiss, but alas, they do not!
That night, as Lilly and Jane have a movie night watching Pride and Prejudice (1995), Jane wants to meet that Darcy. Of course she does. They get into a popcorn fight and Jane declares, “Manners!”
When Lilly wakes up the next day, she has an email from a publisher wanting to obtain Lilly’s manuscript.
Okay, let’s hold up here. The typical path to traditional publication is you get an agent, they help you clean up your manuscript, and then shop it to publishing houses. If you’re very lucky, the publishing house buys it and then your book comes out in 12 to 18 months.
So, you’re trying to tell me that without anyone interfering, Lilly has a publisher show up magically in her email inbox wanting her to buy her book?
I get this movie is a fantasy, but c’mon.
Lilly meets the publisher for lunch and the publisher enthuses why they want to buy Lilly’s book. Lilly remains shocked until the publisher drops the nugget that Trevor’s company bought the publishing company. Lilly is now pissed.
Lilly storms to Scribbler’s and finds Trevor working. She demands to know why he bought the publishing house. Trevor launches that buying the publishing house ancillary to the bookstore is what he needs and goes on with tech bro language.
She stops him and asks who he really is. He listens to her and cannot answer. They have another moment and she storms off upset.
Yet, Lilly is confused.
At the Jane Society meeting, talking about if they are a Lizzie, Emma, or a Marianne. Alisha notes that she’s stepping down as president of Jane Society because she’s taking a leave of absence. She’s going to England! She’s going to see where Jane wrote!
How long does she plan on being gone? That kind of trip would take two weeks, max.
Anyway, the Society is distraught she’s leaving. Alisha points out that Lilly has been different the last few days and could a man be involved? Lilly blushes. Then! Trevor barrels in and declares his love! He wants to change to be a better man and only Lilly can help him. They smooch.
Oh la la, Lilly comes home the following morning holding her shoes and see Jane’s sitting on a bench in the park. Thrilled, Lilly joins her and they talk about when Jane appears and that is only when inspiration is needed.
Trevor shows up and Jane bids adieu to Lilly and tells her to read her books if she needs her. Trevor tells Lilly he has an investment opportunity that includes buying a herd of cattle. Lilly is delighted because Jane once asked if all the men in her life have property such as a herd of cattle. Trevor and Jane smooch. The end.
Thoughts: I know Sweeney is a Day of our Lives and Hallmark princess, but I’m not sure she’s right for this role. Sweeney’s characters tend to be a bit sassy and Lilly doesn’t have that. Sweeney was totally not in this role. She could have perhaps thought a a change in personality would be good for her career but I don’t think I would agree with that if she is aiming for that path.
I also didn’t get the chemistry with her and Ayres. It was barely a spark let alone a devouring passion Ayres and Sweeney try to sells us on. Also, Ayres has this mop of curly hair that just seemed odd. Like a bad wig? Poor hair style choice.
Now, despite this, I thought this movie was super cute. I loved the idea of blending all of Austen’s novels into a single story line, which is a bit clever A pinch of this and a dash of that. Would I watch this movie again? I wouldn’t seek it out but if it were on channel, I’d probably watch it.