Agnes Grey is a fine book. It's not exceptional, it's not the worst, it's just fine. There are lots of things I enjoyed about it -  a real strength of Brontë's, for example, is her descriptive prowess. I especially loved the description of the walk on the beach at the end, right before she reunites with her beau and dog. But Agnes is a fairly boring narrator. There's not much of interest a good clergyman's daughter can bring to a story, and her supreme judginess toward everyone else gets tiresome quickly. Like yeah, yeah, we get it, rich people are assholes. What else is new? It's a little funny how manners keep her from being anywhere near direct about this to the Murrays, but not funny enough hinge an entire novel on.

When I was about halfway through Agnes Grey, I commented to my partner that I felt bad for Anne Brontë that Agnes Grey was originally published as the third of a three-volume set, with the first two volumes being her sister's Wuthering Heights. I read the two back-to-back in that same order, and I think I would've thought Agnes Grey better without the comparison.  

I own a paperback of this book but chose to listen to it on Audible.

Brief Summary: A young girl, Agnes Grey, whose family falls into hard times decides to take on employment as a governess. After experiencing abuse at her first place of employment she moves to a home where she experiences less. However, she is put in charge of a vapid young woman who dreams of only marrying for money. As the young girl finally reaches marriageable age she toys with the men around her and Agnes finds she is jealous when her attentions turn to a certain gentleman.

Thoughts: I hated nearly everything that Agnes had to work for in this book. They were vain, elitists who had no sense and fewer manners. I will say that this is probably an important work in terms of understanding the wider culture of how governesses were often treated throughout England. However, this book didn't make me like or hate Agnes. I wasn't rooting for her even when the end came all I could think was "I'm happy the dog's storyline is resolved". I don't think I will ever pick this book up again, but don't regret reading it.