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Keeping Kate
Orphan Kate Evans is determined to make a life for herself on a Utah ranch, taking care of a little girl named Addie. But when she meets her irritable employer, Kate is forced to confront the past she's been running from—and face a future she never dreamed possible. This latter-day twist on the classic Jane Eyre is a romantic and gripping read.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2015
6 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Winder Farnsworth
3 books54 followersLauren Winder Farnsworth was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is an avid reader, a chocolate enthusiast, and a CPA with a slight alternative music obsession and dreams of one day becoming a gourmet chef. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Utah, went to work as a financial statement auditor, and then decided that since creative accounting wasn’t an option, creative writing would have to do. As a nice compromise, accountants tend to crop up in her stories (since she believes they’re shockingly under-represented in literature anyway).
Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean. She loves hearing from her readers at www.laurenwinderfarnsworth.com.
Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean. She loves hearing from her readers at www.laurenwinderfarnsworth.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 24, 2015
I've read Jane Eyre several times and have absolutely loved it! The author did a great job in staying true to the original story, yet keeping it inventive, if that makes sense.
Kate is an orphan, wanting to find somewhere to belong. She becomes a nanny for a sweet little girl, Addie, and finds her niche. Kate is strong because she has to be. Her parents death left her feeling unloved and unwanted, yet her faith never wavers. For as strong as she is, she sure is naive. There were times when I wanted to yell at her to wake up and take a look around. She missed some very obvious things.
Her employer, Addie's father, Tyler, is very gruff and grumpy at first and then he abruptly changed--I wish it would've been a smoother transition. Honestly, I had a hard time liking Tyler. He came off across as spoiled and selfish. Yes, he had good reasons to be grumpy and selfish, but that didn't change how I felt about him.
Tyler's best friend, Jonathan, suddenly decides he likes Kate and the pursuit and love triangle is on! Things only get more complicated when someone returns from Tyler's past. I didn't like the way things resulted with that arrival.
The relationships were all complicated; the characters were flawed; the story was full of assumptions and misunderstandings, yet it worked. This version was harder for me to love. After much pondering on the reasons why, I decided that it's because this takes place in the here and now, which really personalizes it more, and I wouldn't be okay with these situations that seemed fine 200 years ago.
Content: no language or violence; heavy religious tones (LDS)--lots of details about faith, religion, etc.; mild romance (clean kissing). Clean.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Kate is an orphan, wanting to find somewhere to belong. She becomes a nanny for a sweet little girl, Addie, and finds her niche. Kate is strong because she has to be. Her parents death left her feeling unloved and unwanted, yet her faith never wavers. For as strong as she is, she sure is naive. There were times when I wanted to yell at her to wake up and take a look around. She missed some very obvious things.
Her employer, Addie's father, Tyler, is very gruff and grumpy at first and then he abruptly changed--I wish it would've been a smoother transition. Honestly, I had a hard time liking Tyler. He came off across as spoiled and selfish. Yes, he had good reasons to be grumpy and selfish, but that didn't change how I felt about him.
Tyler's best friend, Jonathan, suddenly decides he likes Kate and the pursuit and love triangle is on! Things only get more complicated when someone returns from Tyler's past. I didn't like the way things resulted with that arrival.
The relationships were all complicated; the characters were flawed; the story was full of assumptions and misunderstandings, yet it worked. This version was harder for me to love. After much pondering on the reasons why, I decided that it's because this takes place in the here and now, which really personalizes it more, and I wouldn't be okay with these situations that seemed fine 200 years ago.
Content: no language or violence; heavy religious tones (LDS)--lots of details about faith, religion, etc.; mild romance (clean kissing). Clean.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 10, 2017
Confession. I have never read Jane Eyre. I know, I know, you can throw your arrows in the air now. LOL! I did, however, really enjoy this retelling of Jane Eyre. Kate has had a very sad life, but I loved that she didn't let it break her spirit and her faith in her Heavenly Father. I was also glad that the author didn't let that back story be the whole focus of the book. The glimpses into her life, told by Kate to others, was perfect. I thought Kate was amazing. A little stubborn at times, but that is what made her enduring. Kate arrives in Oakley (which had me dying since my grandparents have a cabin up there that we still go to) and is right away taken with Thorne Field, not so much taken with Tyler. I loved the progression in their relationship and especially how she was able show him how much he really did love Addie too. Of course, nothing in life goes how you plan and I enjoyed the turn the story makes with some fun characters and a new life. I did wonder about one character, but happy she was no longer in the picture. Tyler also grew on me when he stopped being a stinker and I was thrilled with the end result of the book!
January 20, 2015
First of all, I'll start out by saying that this is an LDS based book. It does contain religious elements and some things specific to the LDS religion.
I am a huge Jane Eyre fan. It's one of my favorite old classics. It's what drew me to the re-telling of this book. I didn't fall in love with this book. I liked it- some parts more than others. Some moments had me rolling my eyes and questioning the characters and their motivations and actions. I feel like the development wasn't always there to convince me of what was happening. There was a lot of drama that really felt like drama.
The cover is pretty, the setting was perfect. As a reader I just fell in and out of the story because some things I just didn't buy into. It wasn't believable to me and I was a bit frustrated throughout. But, there were moments that I really enjoyed as well. It's sort of a mixed bag for me on this one.
I am a huge Jane Eyre fan. It's one of my favorite old classics. It's what drew me to the re-telling of this book. I didn't fall in love with this book. I liked it- some parts more than others. Some moments had me rolling my eyes and questioning the characters and their motivations and actions. I feel like the development wasn't always there to convince me of what was happening. There was a lot of drama that really felt like drama.
The cover is pretty, the setting was perfect. As a reader I just fell in and out of the story because some things I just didn't buy into. It wasn't believable to me and I was a bit frustrated throughout. But, there were moments that I really enjoyed as well. It's sort of a mixed bag for me on this one.
January 30, 2015
(4.5 stars) Kate is an orphan who heads to Utah to be a nanny for a young girl named Addie. She quickly falls in love with her and is able to help her with her schooling as well. She questions the absence of her father, though. We finally meet Tyler and learn the answers to her questions. Life starts looking up for Kate until someone unexpectedly reappears and her life is turned completely upside down.
I liked Kate but was frustrated with her at times. I realize she was young and didn't have a mother to lean on. Even though her past was tough, she was remarkably well adjusted, which is attributed to her faith. Kate is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and there are quite a few faith references and some detail about her beliefs throughout the book. I thought what the author included fit the storyline well and liked that aspect of the book.
There is a love triangle which went about the way I expected it to. There were some abrupt attitude changes which threw me off a little bit. I filled in some of the holes with what I imagined had happened and was surprised with the twists thrown in a few times that things weren't at all the way I imagined they were. There are complications and drama in this book which kept me turning the pages quickly. I liked that the author kept the hard decisions to be made realistic and things didn't happen instantaneously. I had to stay up late one night to finish since I needed to know how it all ended and I'm glad I did--I loved the ending!
I never did read Jane Eyre so I don't know how closely this adaptation followed the storyline, but I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys faith based contemporary romance. This is an author I look forward to reading more of in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
I liked Kate but was frustrated with her at times. I realize she was young and didn't have a mother to lean on. Even though her past was tough, she was remarkably well adjusted, which is attributed to her faith. Kate is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and there are quite a few faith references and some detail about her beliefs throughout the book. I thought what the author included fit the storyline well and liked that aspect of the book.
There is a love triangle which went about the way I expected it to. There were some abrupt attitude changes which threw me off a little bit. I filled in some of the holes with what I imagined had happened and was surprised with the twists thrown in a few times that things weren't at all the way I imagined they were. There are complications and drama in this book which kept me turning the pages quickly. I liked that the author kept the hard decisions to be made realistic and things didn't happen instantaneously. I had to stay up late one night to finish since I needed to know how it all ended and I'm glad I did--I loved the ending!
I never did read Jane Eyre so I don't know how closely this adaptation followed the storyline, but I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys faith based contemporary romance. This is an author I look forward to reading more of in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
March 12, 2016
While it took some time for me to get into the book (I think because Kate spends the first chapter recounting her personal history in a detached manner) once the "irritable employer" Tyler makes his appearance, things started to get really interesting! Kate morphs from dry to feisty as she has a cause to champion- the little girl Addie that she's come to love and Tyler's treatment of her. The chemistry between Kate and Tyler is great as they spar and banter, fight then eventually give in to the mutual attraction.
I enjoyed seeing the story lines match up with those from Jane Eyre, but there are also twists that bring some surprises. For a character that started out so unemotional, Kate becomes an emotional mess as she navigates for the first time the drama and heartbreak of romantic relationships. The friends she makes that support her through these turbulent times are quirky and likeable, and add more depth to Kate's new experience of friendship and loyalty.
This book can be enjoyed by any lover of Christian fiction, however there are references to the Mormon faith since Kate is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(Thank you to Cedar Fort Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
I enjoyed seeing the story lines match up with those from Jane Eyre, but there are also twists that bring some surprises. For a character that started out so unemotional, Kate becomes an emotional mess as she navigates for the first time the drama and heartbreak of romantic relationships. The friends she makes that support her through these turbulent times are quirky and likeable, and add more depth to Kate's new experience of friendship and loyalty.
This book can be enjoyed by any lover of Christian fiction, however there are references to the Mormon faith since Kate is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(Thank you to Cedar Fort Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
July 22, 2015
I'm a huge Jane Eyre fan and this LDS contemporary twist on the classic was pretty fun. I thought the author did a great job staying with the story and yet made it different enough to definitely keep it interesting and even keep you guessing. I found myself entirely fuming and frustrated at several points in the book but I do that in Jane Eyre as well. :) Heart wrenching at times and yet so endearing too. I adored Tyler...and momentarily hated him...I loved Kate and thought she was an excellent "Jane"...but the character that took me entirely by surprise was sweet Jonathan. He was a true knight in shining armor. I was so grateful for the epilogue!
Such a sweet ending...
I look forward to reading more by this author!
Clean romance
Jane Eyre twist
Lds themed story
Such a sweet ending...
I look forward to reading more by this author!
Clean romance
Jane Eyre twist
Lds themed story
December 31, 2015
This is an LDS retelling of Jane Eyre. I love Jane Eyre. It's a hard task to retell a beloved story with an LDS twist but the author did a nice job. While this doesn't compare to the original version I did enjoy reading it.
I loved the first half of this book. The 2nd half dragged a little bit and I was annoyed a few times by the choices the characters made. Thankfully this was tied up with a perfect ending and by the end my annoyances were gone.
Those who are not LDS (mormon) will likely struggle with the amount of religion in this book. Being LDS I appreciated how it influenced the characters choices.
Content: Clean
I loved the first half of this book. The 2nd half dragged a little bit and I was annoyed a few times by the choices the characters made. Thankfully this was tied up with a perfect ending and by the end my annoyances were gone.
Those who are not LDS (mormon) will likely struggle with the amount of religion in this book. Being LDS I appreciated how it influenced the characters choices.
Content: Clean
June 18, 2015
This book both completely entertained me and frustrated me. I couldn't put it down but I got so frustrated with the "Love Triangle". Tyler changed from gruff to "in love" really quickly but I felt they had great chemistry and he really learned to love Kate. I was devastated when the final leg of the triangle showed up. I totally understood why Kate ran but it still frustrated me. Johnathon was just a great guy and my heart went to him. He kind of got the bum end of the deal, but was a hero in my mind. I was actually undecided towards the end as to how I wanted it to end. Usually you can see what's coming, but there were a few times I just about peaked just to make sure she ended up with the right guy. :)Loved the happily ever after...of course!
October 5, 2015
Jane Eyre is the best book of all time, so I wasn't sure what to think going into this, but I was pleasantly blown away! I also knew I was in for a good time when the librarian handed me the book and said she loved it. I typically stay away from LDS romances, but this one was perfectly subtle and felt so real. The twists strayed just enough from the original Jane Eyre to keep things very interesting. I stayed up far too late to finish the book, unable to put it down. I loved all the characters, which were so well developed, and by the end just couldn't wait to find out who Kate ended up with!
February 3, 2015
Yup, definitely read this one. You know, about twelve MILLION times. And I'm rating myself based on effort expended more than anything. ;)
August 22, 2019
This book was frustrating but good. A good book makes you feel a bunch of emotions and that is what this book did. I was hooked from the first page. I loved the Jane Eyre aspect.
Moral Note: Talk of infidelity in marriage, some kissing. LDS themes
Moral Note: Talk of infidelity in marriage, some kissing. LDS themes
January 24, 2015
4 stars
This is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre with a L.D.S. spin on it. There is not much religion or preaching in it but does talk some about it. I can not remember Jane Eyre well from decades ago so can't if is well done. I can say that I shared some tears along the way with Kate.
There is lots of drama in Kate's life both in the past and modern day troubles. I like Kate and she seems real to me. I like how much she cared for those around her. Kate has been a orphan since she was 8. She has a teaching degree but takes a job as a nannie to Addie.
Addie is spoiled with things but not love. She lives on a ranch and sees her father about twice a year. Her mother is dead. She is cute.
Tyler is 12 years older than Kate. He is rich and works in New York. He does not treat Addie good. Does give her everything but love and attention.
There are a few times when I want to shake Tyler and a few other characters for not taking care of the kids in there care.
There are a bunch of love triangles in this story. That make a few choose between two good choices or not choosing. Have to decide what is important to them. You want them to be happy but you can understand what there choices have to be.
This will get you involved with the characters and the story. It is a good clean romance.
The setting is from a Utah ranch, Boston or New York in modern day.
I was given this ebook to read so that I could give a honest review and be part of Keeping Kate's blog tour
This is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre with a L.D.S. spin on it. There is not much religion or preaching in it but does talk some about it. I can not remember Jane Eyre well from decades ago so can't if is well done. I can say that I shared some tears along the way with Kate.
There is lots of drama in Kate's life both in the past and modern day troubles. I like Kate and she seems real to me. I like how much she cared for those around her. Kate has been a orphan since she was 8. She has a teaching degree but takes a job as a nannie to Addie.
Addie is spoiled with things but not love. She lives on a ranch and sees her father about twice a year. Her mother is dead. She is cute.
Tyler is 12 years older than Kate. He is rich and works in New York. He does not treat Addie good. Does give her everything but love and attention.
There are a few times when I want to shake Tyler and a few other characters for not taking care of the kids in there care.
There are a bunch of love triangles in this story. That make a few choose between two good choices or not choosing. Have to decide what is important to them. You want them to be happy but you can understand what there choices have to be.
This will get you involved with the characters and the story. It is a good clean romance.
The setting is from a Utah ranch, Boston or New York in modern day.
I was given this ebook to read so that I could give a honest review and be part of Keeping Kate's blog tour
August 3, 2015
One of my favourite things that I enjoy reading is contemporary versions and retellings of classic tales such as Austen/ Bronte/ Fairytale works. Keeping Kate is a modern day retelling of Jane Eyre. As this is published by Cedar Fort, the book also has a LDS basing on the story as the two main characters Kate and Tyler come from strong Latter Day Saint backgrounds and the novel of course is set in the heart of the Mormon culture in Utah. When Kate was a little girl, her parents died and left her with her uncle and aunt then more tragedy struck and Kate was left with just her Aunt and her awful cousins - like Jane Eyre, Kate was sent away where she learned her schooling and how to become a Nanny in return for board/tuition. The other side of the story is set years ago when a happily married couple Tyler and Camille discover they are to have a baby girl. The story then jumps nine-ten years into the future and Kate has been hired as a Nanny for Addie - Tyler's daughter. The thing is though during this time we learn what happened to Camille and the truth about Addie. In Keeping Kate , Kate is our Jane Eyre and Tyler is our Mr Rochester- though in this case , there maybe skeletons in the closet but no mad ex-wives hidden away in the attic. Can Kate get her Mr. Rochester and the family she has always wanted but never recieved ? Has Tyler finally met someone worthy of his love and willing to take him and Addie as a whole unit ?
If you love the tale of Jane Eyre , then you will absolutely enjoy "Keeping Kate" by Lauren Winder Farnsworth.
If you love the tale of Jane Eyre , then you will absolutely enjoy "Keeping Kate" by Lauren Winder Farnsworth.
January 19, 2015
When I first heard about this book, I strongly suspected I would like it because I like Jane Eyre. Of course, not all books based on classic literature come across very well. I am very happy to say that I absolutely loved this one. Kate and her spunkiness drew me in right away along with her initial clashes with Tyler Thorne. There were enough similarities to Jane Eyre that I knew kind of where the story was going, but there were enough differences and changes to keep me enthralled with the story. I had a really hard time putting this one down, even though I pretty much knew how the story was going to end, getting there was a really intense journey. And I confess I sighed with relief when the story ended the way it was supposed to. That's a sign of a good writer when they draw in the reader even when following an already well known path (similar path).
There is a religious side to the story which can be awkward depending on how it's done, but I found it really well done here. The discussions that Kate has with those she meets feel genuine and sincere and not overly preachy. While religion is an important aspect of the story, it does not dominate the story which I appreciated.
Overall, a fabulous new clean romance for my favorites shelf!
There is a religious side to the story which can be awkward depending on how it's done, but I found it really well done here. The discussions that Kate has with those she meets feel genuine and sincere and not overly preachy. While religion is an important aspect of the story, it does not dominate the story which I appreciated.
Overall, a fabulous new clean romance for my favorites shelf!
March 14, 2016
Didn't think I would love this book, I'm always a little skeptical of these modern days twists of my classical favourites, however this was a really fun variation of Jane Eyre, and I loved it. Kate has led such a struggled life full of misery & lacking in hope since the death of her parents at the age of 8, but I loved how she clung tight to her faith in God, which is a choice all of us will make when we are faced with tests and trials, and she surely has had more than her fair share. Tyler is a great 'Rochester' character, and I found it humorous reading how vague he is in his affections that are obviously there. I had a hard time with the time it took to bring these two back together, and felt sad for Jonathan who is pulled into the middle with his affections. I had to skim read the last bit in order to see how this was going to end, and happy to say I enjoyed the last chapter very much. However the epilogue was annoyingly quick and covered far too much too quick, but all in all this book pulled me in and took me away into this story, highly recommend!
November 7, 2014
This was a delightful story that once again caused me to shirk my household duties until I finished reading it! If you are looking for a classic, clean, witty, wonderful romance, this is the one to read! I absolutely fell in love with the characters and experienced every emotion they did. I loved the parallels to the classic Jane Eyre story as well as the pleasant surprises along the way. This is such a fun read but also one that keeps you thinking about it after you've read it. You know, reliving those conversations, scenes, and embraces that make your heart sing with happiness :) I love being able to dive into another world as I read, and this book definitely did that for me. Farnsworth is a wonderful author who captures her characters and their emotions very well. I can't wait to see what else she comes up with!
January 29, 2015
WHAT A FUN BOOK!
Kate Evans lost her parents at an early age and was sent to live with an aunt and uncle.
Life was not easy and now that Kate is an adult she is determined to prove that she can make it on her own.
So when a job opportunity comes to be a nanny for a cute little girl named Addie on a Utah ranch, Kate jumps at the chance.
She is curious that her employer, Tyler, spends most of the year away from Addie working in New York.
When she finds out the real reason Tyler is gone so much Kate is filled with conflicting emotions.
To complicate things further Tyler's friend, Jonathan comes into the picture.
Through it all, Kate will have reasons to finally face her past...
And she will be forced to make hard decisions that will shape her future.
This romantic twist is filled with sparks, humor, romance, and a Jane Eyre feel.
LOVED IT!
A WONDERFUL read!
Kate Evans lost her parents at an early age and was sent to live with an aunt and uncle.
Life was not easy and now that Kate is an adult she is determined to prove that she can make it on her own.
So when a job opportunity comes to be a nanny for a cute little girl named Addie on a Utah ranch, Kate jumps at the chance.
She is curious that her employer, Tyler, spends most of the year away from Addie working in New York.
When she finds out the real reason Tyler is gone so much Kate is filled with conflicting emotions.
To complicate things further Tyler's friend, Jonathan comes into the picture.
Through it all, Kate will have reasons to finally face her past...
And she will be forced to make hard decisions that will shape her future.
This romantic twist is filled with sparks, humor, romance, and a Jane Eyre feel.
LOVED IT!
A WONDERFUL read!
October 2, 2014
I absolutely LOVE the story of Jane Eyre so although I was at first skeptical of the modern, LDS twist on the story, it far exceeded my expectations. I devoured this book...read it multiple times! The characters are endearing and the modern adaptation brings enough twists to keep the story captivating. This is not a typical, cheesy, "gag me" LDS romance novel. It's a clever, creative, funny, heart-rending, goosebump-worthy rendition of a timeless classic.
June 27, 2018
An amazing adaptation of Jane Eyre. I loved it.
April 24, 2015
A LDS modern adaptation of Jane Eyre. The author does such a great job. I loved it! Probably one of the best books I've read all year.
Read
February 3, 2022This a Jane Eyre retelling. Enjoyed.
January 31, 2015
I didn't want to put it down!
May 30, 2018
This novel is a modern Jane Eyre retelling. I've read Jane Eyre once because my dad told me to, and, when I did, I was confused most of the time...and also kind of creeped out that Mr. Rochester was twice Jane's age. People kept saying how, in Jane Eyre, Jane showed such great strength and moral character, but I really didn't see that.
But Keeping Kate made so much more sense. I actually understood what was going on, and I understood how Kate (and therefore Jane) did actually have great moral strength in what she did. She loved someone deeply and couldn't keep herself from that love. But when it turns out that that love is impossible for her morally, she pulls herself away from it. She abstains from something she physically wants for a higher moral standard.
I guess I never understood that in Jane Eyre. Perhaps it was that the vocabulary was a bit easier to understand in Keeping Kate. Or perhaps I'm just older and understand the can't-help-loving-someone thing. Or maybe it was the slight softening of the weird parts of the plotline. Or maybe it was because Kate shared my religious beliefs and so I could relate it to my life and see why she acted the way she did. And the fact that I was able to actually apply it to my life and feel inspired by Kate speaks for the power of this book.
It also speaks for the power of Jane Eyre. I think that's another fantastic thing about this retelling--it made me want to read Jane Eyre again...to see if I could find that same strength in Jane that I found in Kate...to see if I could understand Jane now and the actual purpose of that book. I think Jane Eyre has more to her than met the eye when I first read that book...and now I want to read it again, to see what inspired this book.
Some things unrelated to the retelling that I want to comment on:
I love that Kate's faith was such an important part of this book! I feel like LDS authors sometimes shy away from this, not wanting to feel preachy, but for a reader like me, including spirituality, including and showing this faith and strength of belief is awesome. I think it also added another dimension to Kate that I didn't really see in Jane (though maybe I just missed it)...and it actually made the story make more sense to me. It was good and inspiring.
That being said...I feel like there perhaps wasn't enough of it. Kate says that her belief permeates every part of her life. While I did see her defend her faith, I feel like there weren't enough of the daily, consistent habits shown. We never saw her reading her scriptures, and we didn't see her praying often. It did mention her going to church. But through all this, we never get to see what she learns from these moments! Does she gain more strength, more charity, more understanding from the spiritual things she does? I assume she would, but we never get to see that, which I think is unfortunate. So I feel like while we know she has a very strong testimony of the truth, we don't get to see her actually living and utilizing that faith in her daily life.
Anyway, I loved the characters. Kate, of course, was strong and inspiring. Addie was adorable and so fun to see progress through Kate's eyes. Tyler was great. I wish I got to see some of Kate's and Tyler's conversations about politics...they were mentioned but never shown.
I really liked the feel of this book. The mood doesn't really feel modern...it felt a bit more like Jane Eyre to me...but much easier to understand and relate to. It was a good mood to be able to read in.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed it. I loved the conflict of Kate--a conflict which I am sure is present in Jane Eyre but I wasn't quite discerning enough to understand. I'd definitely recommend this to people who either love Jane Eyre or who are kind of confused by classic literature but want to like it. It was just really good.
But Keeping Kate made so much more sense. I actually understood what was going on, and I understood how Kate (and therefore Jane) did actually have great moral strength in what she did. She loved someone deeply and couldn't keep herself from that love. But when it turns out that that love is impossible for her morally, she pulls herself away from it. She abstains from something she physically wants for a higher moral standard.
I guess I never understood that in Jane Eyre. Perhaps it was that the vocabulary was a bit easier to understand in Keeping Kate. Or perhaps I'm just older and understand the can't-help-loving-someone thing. Or maybe it was the slight softening of the weird parts of the plotline. Or maybe it was because Kate shared my religious beliefs and so I could relate it to my life and see why she acted the way she did. And the fact that I was able to actually apply it to my life and feel inspired by Kate speaks for the power of this book.
It also speaks for the power of Jane Eyre. I think that's another fantastic thing about this retelling--it made me want to read Jane Eyre again...to see if I could find that same strength in Jane that I found in Kate...to see if I could understand Jane now and the actual purpose of that book. I think Jane Eyre has more to her than met the eye when I first read that book...and now I want to read it again, to see what inspired this book.
Some things unrelated to the retelling that I want to comment on:
I love that Kate's faith was such an important part of this book! I feel like LDS authors sometimes shy away from this, not wanting to feel preachy, but for a reader like me, including spirituality, including and showing this faith and strength of belief is awesome. I think it also added another dimension to Kate that I didn't really see in Jane (though maybe I just missed it)...and it actually made the story make more sense to me. It was good and inspiring.
That being said...I feel like there perhaps wasn't enough of it. Kate says that her belief permeates every part of her life. While I did see her defend her faith, I feel like there weren't enough of the daily, consistent habits shown. We never saw her reading her scriptures, and we didn't see her praying often. It did mention her going to church. But through all this, we never get to see what she learns from these moments! Does she gain more strength, more charity, more understanding from the spiritual things she does? I assume she would, but we never get to see that, which I think is unfortunate. So I feel like while we know she has a very strong testimony of the truth, we don't get to see her actually living and utilizing that faith in her daily life.
Anyway, I loved the characters. Kate, of course, was strong and inspiring. Addie was adorable and so fun to see progress through Kate's eyes. Tyler was great. I wish I got to see some of Kate's and Tyler's conversations about politics...they were mentioned but never shown.
I really liked the feel of this book. The mood doesn't really feel modern...it felt a bit more like Jane Eyre to me...but much easier to understand and relate to. It was a good mood to be able to read in.
Overall, I really, really enjoyed it. I loved the conflict of Kate--a conflict which I am sure is present in Jane Eyre but I wasn't quite discerning enough to understand. I'd definitely recommend this to people who either love Jane Eyre or who are kind of confused by classic literature but want to like it. It was just really good.
February 18, 2020
This is a retelling of Jane Eyre ... with an LDS twist. A little weird for me I guess, but it was well written. The only thing that didn’t stay as true to the original story was the love triangle the main character found herself in ... it changed the story too much for my taste. Jane Eyre did not fall in love with anyone else in her years away from Thornfield House. It was a good enough story but ultimately, it just makes me want to watch the Movie, Jane Eyre again.
October 17, 2018
A good, modern-day Jane Eyre, but lacks some finesse, and needs a bit more polish. I found myself unable to relate to the heroine at times, who seemed quite selfish and unable to set proper boundaries. Still, the climax had me in tears, and books rarely have the ability to do that, to me. I felt the main character's heartache. I just wish I didn't have to feel her immaturity, too.
February 26, 2025
The love triangle aspect was drawn out, needlessly lasted way longer than it should have.
The retelling got weird towards the middle which caused the story to drag.
The characters all made silly decisions and I’m not convinced any of them had any redeeming qualities.
Could have been better.
The retelling got weird towards the middle which caused the story to drag.
The characters all made silly decisions and I’m not convinced any of them had any redeeming qualities.
Could have been better.
May 14, 2022
A very cute modern take on Jane Eyre. I loved the Latter-day Saint perspective throughout the book! I saw so many parallels to the original that I loved, but also enjoyed the modern setting. Such a fun read that I will definitely read again!
October 18, 2017
This was a good retelling and clean.
March 20, 2019
I loved this book! It was fast-paced, fun, and full of suspense. Thank you, Lauren Winder Farnsworth, for such a beautiful book! I loved it!
April 24, 2020
This book gave me a lot of feelings right up until the end. I am still processing everything. But I figured if it grabbed my attention and gave me feelings it deserves a 4.
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