I’m a sucker for a English romance where the FMC inherits a countryside manor and has to deal with a local boy enemy. Throw in the classic literature/Jane Austen references and I’m done for. This book was super cute and I also loved the little mini-mystery it had as well.

This was a fun one. A bit of mystery, a bit of countryside, a Mr Darcy-like author with a slightly mysterious past, a literary festival, what's not to like. Kind of a modern day Jane Austen novel. Fun to read!

This book was funnier than I was expecting! This was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, which I greatly enjoyed. The sparks between Maddy and Cameron were perfect. And who doesn't love a book about books?

Linda Corbett's "What Would Jane Austen Do?" is a delightful romantic comedy that will capture the hearts of Jane Austen fans and romantics alike. With its charming setting, endearing characters, and witty banter, this novel is a captivating homage to the beloved author and her timeless tales of love and wit.

At the centre of the story is Maddy Shaw, a Jane Austen aficionado who finds herself thrust into a quaint English village after inheriting a country home from her long-lost cousin. Tasked with organising the annual village literary festival, Maddy must also contend with her new neighbour, bestselling crime author Cameron Massey, whose cynicism about romance puts him at odds with Maddy's romantic ideals.

What sets "What Would Jane Austen Do?" apart is its clever blend of romance, humour, and literary references. Corbett expertly weaves elements of Jane Austen's novels into the narrative, creating a charming and whimsical atmosphere that will enchant readers from the very first page. From the witty repartee between Maddy and Cameron to the quirky antics of the village residents, every scene sparkles with charm and wit.

Moreover, the romance between Maddy and Cameron is both sweet and steamy, as they navigate their differences and discover a connection that transcends their initial animosity. Corbett's writing is heartfelt and engaging, capturing the essence of Jane Austen's timeless romances while adding a modern twist.

In addition to its romance, "What Would Jane Austen Do?" also explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of literature to inspire and uplift. As Maddy immerses herself in the world of Jane Austen, she learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

As long as you go into the book without the expectation of an Austen retelling, i think readers will really enjoy it. The title is more of how the heroine is a fan of Austen and the author works quotes into the plot. The author does use some tropes like enemies to lovers and forced proximity, but they didn't feel annoying here. The romance kept me reading more than the subplots about Maddy's family. Very quick pool read for me and I enjoyed the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was a DNF for me. I didn't really like the main male character and couldn't see why the female character would fancy someone with his quirks and difficulties. And I'm a Jane Austen purist and there was no connection between this book and her.

Good book that took me a few chapters to get into. It just felt like the story was not moving at first,

What Would Jane Austen Do?
by Linda Corbett

A lovely light hearted read especially if you are fond of Jane Austen. There are quotes throughout the book. An unexpected bequest from an unknown relative when you are nearly on your upper especially when it is a large house in the country. A great lighthearted read Maddy’s only stipulation is she must live in the house for a year and she intends to sale after that but will she? Nigel keeps revealing secrets from and you are well entertained throughout the book. I really enjoyed this lighthearted witty read, and let’s not forget Luke the lodger. Great fun. 4.5/5

OK, I have to admit that it wasn't the Jane Austen aspect that made me want to read this book, but the overall sound of it, I love a enemies to lovers and this sounded right up my street and I was pleased to say that my initial thought of it was right, it doesn't disappoint.
I liked the Jane Austen quotes wich opens each chapter, and I really loved the whole clashing of the heads of the romantic reader and defender of all things happily ever after and the stoic non-romantic crime writer - huge amounts of fun there!
An cute and entertaining read, easy and non-taxing and light-hearted read, perfect for those who love enemies to lovers/grumpy sunshine and off course; Jane Austen!
Definetely recommended, perfect for those lazy days!

Mandy really loves Jane Austen, but her neighbor doesn't care about love stories or Austen's books. When Mandy loses her job and inherits a house from a relative she never met, things get interesting. Then, a famous writer of detective stories has to stay with her for a while because his house is being fixed. They don't like each other at first... but maybe that changes?

I liked how the characters talked to each other, the funny side characters, and how the romance slowly grew.

i love austen so i obviously knew i would love this book when i saw it i requested it right away
thank you netgalley for this beautiful opportunity.
me honestly if i had a chance to have a hallmark love story i would say sign me the fuck up. getting the house done and going head to head then falling in love oh my days

This was slow to get into, and took a while for the chemistry to shine, but it was well written, and had a tight plot. It uses classic romantic tropes well.

I really enjoyed What Would Jane Austen do?
Main character Maddy Shaw is reeling after losing her agony aunt column, Dear Jane, which she wrote for a national magazine seemingly out of the blue.
She attends one last interview commitment as a guest alongside an extremely moody crime writer with an extremely simple view of romance.
And just when everything feels like it’s going wrong for Maddy and she fears she will have to leave the flat share with her best friend if she can’t secure another job fast she is contacted by a solicitor.
The solicitor tells her some unexpected news that she has been left a property with some stipulations by a long-lost relative, infamous Cousin Nigel.

With one of the stipulations being that she must live in the property for 365 days to inherit it fully, she packs up some belongings and moves into Meadowhall, a large house, fully intending to sell up and leave when the year ends.
But things don’t quite turn out that way.
Meadowhall sounds like an amazing house ripe for some TLC and being brought back to life.
The library is the room I would love to lose myself in!

I loved everything about this book, from the fantastically appropriate Jane Austen quotes that started each chapter to learning more about the lodger she ends up taking in to keep herself financially afloat.
I loved peeling the layers back on Luke the lodger.
Cousin Nigel is also a dark horse, revealing secret after secret from beyond the grave.
I really enjoyed the literary festival and getting to know members of the planning committee along the way.
The ghost hunting saga was hilarious.

And of course there’s sparks flying and possibly a happy ever after.

Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Maddy and Cameron were like oil and water, and while they don't seem to mix easily, they do make a rather delightful dressing...I mean, potential couple!

I felt for Maddy's plight. Tossed to the curb by a job she loved, struggling to regain her footing to discover what might come next, seemingly being handed the answer to her prayers, yet finding strings attached, The strings would have been enough for anyone to get tangled up in, after all, there's a reason there's a tale about a country mouse and a city mouse to begin with, but add in the complications of the unexpected stipulations from the dearly departed, and the neighbor she'd never ask for, and most would eagerly be running for the hills. Well, not Maddy...or not exactly. She runs for her own hills in this new stage for the next chapter of her life, and whether temporary or not, she's going to make the most of it, give it her all, and give the naysayers what for...with a community that'll grow on her right by her side, and perhaps a little unexpected Mr. Darcy action too!

Cameron was more of an acquired taste, and while I don't regret disliking him at first, I was rather happy with the turn of events by book's end. It never hurts to have someone challenge us. It keeps us on our toes, and growing to a bigger, better version of ourselves, and that push can help us achieve things we never knew possible. In Cameron's case...perhaps the chance at a little romance, both on and off the page.

Take a chance on this work of Fiction and see just how much heart can be found in a small town with a boy, a girl, a dog, and a potential happily-ever-after neither could see coming. Come for the story, stay for the romcom fun, and help puzzle through the mystery within!

I am a huge Jane Austen fan and I had to read this. I was so grateful to receive this advance reader copy. I loved the book. The authors writing style flowed beautifully. The quotes that started off each chapter were fantastic. The characters were great and the setting was phenomenal. I loved it.

This was a cute romance- not a full on homage to Jane Austen as the title would suggest, but still quite enjoyable. I personally did not connect with the characters to a deep level and I wanted a bit 'more' from the chemistry and opposites attract vibe but overall a very cute story and a quick, enjoyable read

Pride & Prejudice just so happens to be my favourite book, so I am always keen to read books that incorporate Jane Austen, whether that be subtly or not! As she very clearly appears in the title of Linda Corbetts new novel, I really could not resist!

Our heroine, Maddy Shaw, finds herself jobless when her Dear Jane column is unceremoniously cancelled. Just as she is filled with despair at the thought of both job and house hunting (due to now being priced out of the London property market), she finds herself within reaching distance of a very generous inheritance from her fathers long lost cousin Nigel. The black sheep of the family, Nigel is nothing more than a whispered rumour, so when Maddy finds herself on the doorstep of a beautiful country home, she is more than a little intrigued. With the stipulation that she must inhabit the house for 12 months before she can officially take ownership, Maddy finds herself in a small village, miles from the city, and in the centre of the local community. Throw in a handsome but somewhat grumpy crime author, and you have the ingredients for an excellent novel!

I really enjoyed What Would Jane Austen Do? - Maddy was a great character, who whilst nervous, eventually throws herself into her new life. She is faced with more than a few challenges, namely the annual village literary festival, but she faces them head on. Cameron Massey is our handsome crime writer with a small case of writers block and a past that has left him closed off to others. With the mystery of cousin Nigel to solve, and a community who aren't quite sure where to hold Maddy at arms length or embrace her into the fold, there is plenty happening to keep a reader intrigued! It is an easy read, and an enjoyable one.

I am more than happy to recommend this to you all - grab yourself a chilled glass of wine and pull up a chair in the sunshine whilst you enjoy this lovely novel!

I'm a sucker for anything Jane Austen related, and this book did not disappoint! There's also cottage core vibes, a literary festival, and a grumpy love interest. You can't go wrong with this book for your next romance read!

For romance readers, Jane Austen is often a classic favorite. Maddy is no different and has turned her love of Austen stories into a popular agony aunt column that she is thrilled to write daily. Too bad her column was seen as irrelevant to her boss, even if everyone else loved it. But I loved that this set her on the path for a better life and career. Plus she had a perfect meet-hate with a handsome author then inherited a home she didn’t know she needed. All this serves to bring her to the English countryside and discover what’s most important in life - actually living it. And live, she does, with a delightful town full of new friends, a decades long mystery to solve and a budding romance with the aforementioned handsome author. The snarky banter among the characters and the wonderful plot made for a perfect afternoon of reading for me. I definitely recommend fan of Jane Austen grab a copy of this cozy romance read.

I received a complimentary ARC of this story from AustenProse via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I read a beautiful story that had a gentle feel to it. However, the clever and observant writing style made it stand out from the ordinary. The community of characters in the story was lovely, and they made me smile throughout the entire reading experience. I especially enjoyed the romantic relationship that developed between Maddie and Luke. The author has included many subtle references to Jane Austen's writing, which makes it a delightful tribute to her work. Overall, it was an excellent read, and I look forward to reading more books from Linda Corbett.
A gentle and heartwarming romance is like the romantic version of a cosy crime story. It is set in the English countryside and is softer in tone, but still enjoyable and gets its point across. I particularly enjoyed the mystery element that Maddy worked on to discover more about Nigel. With all the supporting cast from the village, it almost felt like being in the middle of a Miss Marple investigation, but without any actual murder.

When Luke and Maddy first meet, they are not friends and are forced into close proximity. Luke is grumpy, while Maddy is full of sunshine, and they even have to share a bed for a night . This romance covers all the classic romantic tropes, and sometimes brings in that cosy crime mystery feel, while always remaining pleasant.

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