Review Detail

Jane Stays Dreaming by Britnee Meiser is a young adult novel that feels like a modern-day reimagining of Jane Austen’s Emma. In this version, our main character, Jane, creates a secret blog where she poses as "Anastasia"—the ultimate IT girl with a picture-perfect life. The blog blows up so much that followers start writing in for life advice, and Jane (as Anastasia) starts responding.

The secret blog seems pretty harmless until Brynn, the new girl at school, writes to the blog asking for advice on how to win over Jane’s best friend, Leo. Jane starts spiraling with a mix of complicated emotions as Leo and Brynn get closer, using her blog to sabotage their relationship. Of course, Jane’s secret identity is eventually exposed, and she’s forced to deal with the messy fallout in her real life.

What I Liked:

The characters are messy, which makes them so much more relatable. Jane doesn’t always do the right thing—she has a temper, she lashes out at her friends, and the book doesn't shy away from showing the consequences of those choices. Writing her as a real human with faults is exactly what makes her likable. This is a super fast-paced read. I loved that the chapters are broken up with actual blog posts; it really helps tie Jane’s double life together and keeps you turning the pages. The book does a fantastic job of showing how social media is usually just a highlight reel. It’s a lesson that feels incredibly relevant for teens today.

Readers who enjoy stories about friendship and the drama of high school will adore Jane Stays Dreaming.