'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' Movie Review: A Film that Makes Every Janeite Feel Seen

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As someone who has been utterly devoted to Jane Austen since I was thirteen—so much so that I took on the nickname “Emma” after falling head over heels for Austen’s most delightfully flawed heroine (my actual name is Emily, but Emma has stuck for nearly three decade now)—I approached Laura Piani’s Jane Austen Wrecked My Life with the kind of hopeful trepidation that only a true Janeite can understand.

We’ve been burned before by modern adaptations and Austen-adjacent films that promise the wit and romance of our beloved author but deliver sugary substitutes instead. Thankfully, Piani’s directorial debut is a refreshingly authentic exploration of what it means to love literature so deeply that it shapes your expectations of real life, even when those expectations become a burden rather than a blessing.

The film follows Agathe Robinson (Camille Rutherford), a charmingly awkward French bookseller working at a bookstore in Paris. Agathe embodies every book lover’s fantasy and nightmare simultaneously—she’s surrounded by literature all day, dreams of becoming a successful writer, and yearns for the kind of epic romance that fills the pages of Austen’s novels. However, reality has been less kind than fiction.

At thirty-something, Agathe finds herself desperately single, plagued by writer’s block, and convinced she was born in the wrong century. The plot kicks into motion when Agathe’s best friend Félix (Pablo Pauly) secretly submits her work to a Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England, hosted by Austen’s actual descendants. Just before she reluctantly departs for the program, Agathe shares an unexpected kiss with Félix, complicating their long-standing friendship.

Upon arriving at the picturesque English estate, Agathe encounters Oliver (Charlie Anson), Austen’s great-great-great-great nephew, who proves to be both insufferably pretentious and inexplicably attractive. What follows is a delightfully messy romantic triangle that would make Austen herself proud, as Agathe must navigate her feelings for both men while finally confronting her own fears about love, writing, and living authentically.

Check out the trailer below.

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Movie Trailer

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Movie Review: What I Did & Didn’t Like

What I absolutely adored about this film is how it captures the very real struggle of being a literature lover in the modern world. Piani doesn’t mock Agathe’s literary obsessions or dismiss them as naive romanticism. Instead, she presents them as both a source of beauty and a potential trap. As someone who has definitely caught myself comparing real-life romantic situations to Austen novels (usually unfavorably), I found Agathe’s journey deeply relatable.

The film’s understanding that loving literature can be both inspiring and limiting felt refreshingly honest. The setting work is absolutely gorgeous. And, while the entire film was shot in France, the English countryside locations feel authentically dreamy and romantic. The contrast between the cozy, book-filled chaos of the bookstore where Agathe works and the sprawling gardens of the residency creates a perfect visual metaphor for Agathe’s journey from literary fantasy to lived reality. Piani has a wonderful eye for atmosphere, and every frame feels infused with the kind of yearning that makes romantic comedies worth watching.

However, the film isn’t without its flaws, though for me, there are few. Some of the dialogue can be frustratingly on-the-nose, particularly when characters explicitly state the themes rather than letting them emerge naturally. Though, even noting these moments doesn’t diminish my adoration for this tale. We Jane Austen fans need more movies as delightful as this one!

The Script

Piani’s screenplay is at its strongest when it’s exploring the intersection between literature and life. The film’s central premise—that a diet of romantic literature can set unrealistic expectations—is handled with nuance and genuine insight. Rather than simply mocking bookish romanticism, Piani examines how literary ideals can both elevate and constrain us. The script wisely avoids the trap of suggesting that Agathe needs to abandon her love of books; instead, it argues that she needs to find a way to live alongside them rather than through them.

The bilingual nature of the script adds another layer of authenticity. Agathe speaks French when she’s comfortable and English when navigating unfamiliar social territory, which feels psychologically accurate. There’s a charming scene where she complains about Oliver in French, not realizing he speaks the language, that captures both the humor and vulnerability of cross-cultural romantic confusion.

Where the script falters is in some of its more conventional romantic comedy beats. The film occasionally relies on tired tropes when its more original observations would have been sufficient. The writing is also sometimes guilty of over-explaining its themes. These moments feel like the film is lecturing rather than trusting its audience to understand its deeper meanings.

The Performances

Camille Rutherford delivers a wonderfully complex performance as Agathe. She captures the character’s bookish charm without making her feel like a quirky manic pixie dream girl. Rutherford brings a genuine vulnerability to Agathe’s struggles with writing and romance, making her feel like a real person rather than a literary device. Her chemistry with both male leads feels authentic, and she navigates the film’s tonal shifts between comedy and deeper emotional moments with impressive skill.

Pablo Pauly brings warmth and complexity to Félix, avoiding the trap of making him either the “safe choice” or the “friend zone” cliché. His performance makes it clear why Agathe would be drawn to him, while also showing the genuine care and friendship that underlie their relationship.

Charlie Anson has the more challenging role as Oliver, who could easily have become an insufferable Hugh Grant knockoff. Instead, Anson finds the character’s vulnerability beneath his pretentious exterior, making his eventual romantic appeal believable.

The supporting cast, particularly the other writers at the residency, creates a convincing creative community atmosphere. Even in smaller roles, actors like Liz Crowther and Alan Fairbairn bring specificity to their characters, making the residency feel like a real place populated by real people rather than romantic comedy archetypes. Honestly, watching these scenes made me wistful—I would have loved to attend such a residency in my younger years, immersing myself in a community of writers and artists, surrounded by the inspiring landscapes and intellectual banter that the film so beautifully depicts. (I’m sure any Janeite who watches this one will feel the same.)

Overall Thoughts

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life succeeds as both a romantic comedy and a meditation on the relationship between literature and life. While it’s not a perfect film—it’s a thoroughly charming and thoughtful exploration of what it means to love books in a world that often feels disappointingly un-literary.

While this film likely won’t convert non-Austen fans, it’s a delightful treat for those of us who have been shaped by the wit and wisdom of literature’s greatest romantic realist. It’s a film that understands both the joy and the burden of loving books deeply, and ultimately argues that the best life is one lived with one foot in literature and one foot in reality. For this devoted Emma, that message feels perfectly, authentically Austenian.