So Into You(The Jane Austen Academy Series 2)Publisher: The Alpha Division, 2012Genre: YA ContemporaryThe last thing that the girls at the elite Jane Austen Academy need is guys. But over the summer the school has been sold, and like it or not, the guys are coming. And they're about to turn the Academy—and the lives of its students—totally upside down…
Meet sweet and sensible Ellie who hasn’t met a problem her mom’s yoga mantras can’t fix. But when her parents threaten to pull her from the Academy just as her flirtation with the cutest boy in school heats up, will Ellie be able to keep her cool?
Ellie lives her life following the mantras her mom has taught her, like ‘accept the path the universe has set for you,’ and ‘don’t desire something too much or the universe might take it from you.’ But when her parents want to take her out of the Jane Austen Academy to take her to live in Guatemala with their new adopted baby, Ellie can’t help but resist. She wants to stay with her friends, she wants to stay and see if something might happen with shy and fun Edward. But staying comes with a cost, and perhaps her reasons for staying no longer matter. Will Ellie challenge the universe to find happiness once again?
Cecilia Gray’s new takes on Jane Austen’s works are the perfect combination of the classic romance tales and YA fun!
So Into You is the second book in the Jane Austen Academy Series, and like the first one it’s a short novelette that hits the mark as a perfect summer reads. Based on Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, this sequel focuses on a different set of characters while still keeping up with Lizzie and Dante’s relationship and problems. Here we get to know more about Ellie, whose sweet demeanor has caught the eye of Edward. But though he seems interested, Ellie doesn’t know for sure because he always pulls away at the last second. Ellie knows it’s wrong to wish for more—her mom’s mantra says so—but she can’t help to want Edward to take that last step and kiss her already. Little does she know that there is a very valid reason for him not to be kissing her. Sweet Edward is trying to be a gentleman, but like any boy he screws it up. And then he fixes it in the most romantic way possible. <3
Aside from Ellie’s story we also get a bit of Lizzie and Dante, Emma’s drama queen moments, Josh’s cocky movie star attitude, and we’re introduced to Fanny, who’ll be a main character in another novelette. I don’t remember much of Sense and Sensibility, and I can’t say how well the stories compare, but I do know Gray captured the essence and the feeling of the story. Ellie’s fear of wishing for more, thinking she shouldn’t or that she is undeserving, and her ultimate change into someone who’s not afraid to speak up was simply extraordinary. Though this second installment is also very short, I didn’t feel like there needed to be more of it to feel complete (like I wished with the first one).
I devoured So Into You in just a few hours, and if the third installment had been available I would have devoured that one too. I am just enchanted with the girls and the Jane Austen Academy, and can’t wait to read each of their stories. Again, let me point you out to the very cool trailer, which you can check out HERE. Next up it’s When I’m With You, which is based on Northanger Abbey!
Favorite Quotes:
~Time with you~
“I’ve been working on it all day,” he said. “Ever since I heard you were staying.”
He looked down at his own cup and took a quick swallow. “I’ll take what I can get. Another day. Another minute.” He looked at her, his eyes dark and serious. “Every second.”
~A stumble~
Tran tugged her tighter, dropping his tattooed arm to her waist.
Edward saw them and stumbled, his toe catching in the grass, and he took a header to the ground. Lucy tried to catch him but they crashed together. She laughed, tossing her head back, then leaned down to kiss him.
Ellie felt her throat clog tight.
“I wouldn’t have predicted that.” Tran looked down at her with a sympathetic smile.
“Am I so obvious?” Ellie groaned.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“My life is over.” Ellie tried to pull away, but he gently held her tight.
“Stay tight,” he said. “Don’t look spooked.”
“Is my pathetic love life a show for you?”
“No,” Tran promised. He rubbed his knuckles on top of her head until she smiled and playfully pushed him away. “Hang in there. You’re gonna be all right, Ellie.”
