Lost stories and unfinished works from famous authors are always a gamble to publish. In Jane Austen’s case, the short stories and bio were published by her niece. The private letters from Austen are intriguing, since readers are given a peak at the real side of this famous authoress. And, although the background of her aunt’s life provides insight to what influenced Austen’s famous works, having the scenery and time period explained to readers feels more like a lesson in history and decor than a biography of Jane Austen.

The best part of this novel is in the first short story, “Lady Susan.” Each chapter is provided in the form of a letter, switching back and forth from the various characters in the story. The originality of Austen’s formatting is impressive for her time period. Each character is allowed to give their own perspective of characters and circumstances as the story progresses, allowing the story to move along with empathy and understanding of the characters. Having a story centered around a vain, seductive, and manipulative women keeps the story from losing any edge. The only tricky part is getting used to the large group of characters in the beginning; however, adjusting to this story’s layout is well-worth it.

“The Watsons” is not nearly as creative as “Lady Susan,” which can a bit of a let-down after reading something so unique from Austen’s usual style. Themed around a ball, first impressions, and manners, “The Watsons” has many similarities resonant to Austen’s famous and all-ready published works: i.e. “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.”

Overall, the book is definitely an intriguing read, especially for fans who hunger for more of Austen’s work, whether it be unknown or unpublished. However, I have to say that some works, like “The Watsons,” should remain unknown and unpublished. There was a reason that Austen left the work incomplete. Instead of tarnishing Austen’s reputation with an unfinished story, perhaps works like these should be put in a museum, while creative and complete works like “Lady Susan” should be shared with the world.

-EZ Read Staffer Amelia