I find that I very rarely read these easy, contemporary, perfect-beach-read books these days. My time is often taken up by a long and demanding TBR that consists of heavier stuff. As a result, the contemporary books that I do read must be good because otherwise I will root them out pretty quickly. However, I do love contemporary, Austen-inspired books, and can never resist a good one! This had great characters, a fun narrative, and nice themes of friendship and dreams. It was the perfect length and engaging throughout. It was a joy to sit back and relax with this fun, amusing, easy-going novel, and I quite enjoyed spending my day reading it.

This author's Dear Mr. Knightley is on my list of all-time favorites, so with each new book I am hoping and hoping to reach that level. This one wasn't there, but I did enjoy it. The main character, Mary, is quirky and different, but still likable. The setting of a manor house in Bath is perfect, and I'm happy to report that I liked this book much better than the comparable Austenland. Having returned from a visit to Bath not too long ago, I was walking alongside the characters when they were walking on the roundabout of The Circus, I could see the chandeliers and columns of The Assembly Rooms, feel the grandeur of The Royal Crescent... I would love to play Mrs. Croft on a holiday like that! I really enjoyed all of the Austen references, but I think if you are not conversant with all of her books the story might lose a little something. I thought each character was pretty well fleshed out and it was interesting to hear the back story on each one. Will I read this one over and over again like I do Dear Mr. Knightley? No, but it was fun while it lasted.

Perfect for any and all Jane Austen fans. While the plot revolved around Austen, there was enough emphasis on the modern day characters and their lives to keep me interested in them over going back to my favorites from Austen. While some aspects of the plot were slightly far fetched, they still fit in with the lighthearted tone of the book.

This book fell short of my expectations, leaving me somewhat disappointed. As a big fan of Jane Austen fan, I was looking forward to a great story, but didn't get what I was after.

With a description saying that the main character's friend loses her memory and believes she is truly in Regency Bath, I expected some humour and hi-jinks as they try to control Isabel, all the while Mary learns what she needs to learn. There was none. In fact, as a key plot point, it fell horribly flat. Nor was it believable. She's a supposed expert on Jane Austen who doesn't even speak like it.

And speaking of expert on Jane Austen, I've come to learn this isn't my kind of Jane Austen appreciation book. I enjoy the twisted re-tellings of her classic tales. I'd even like to write a Persuasion re-telling myself. When you're reading a fresh new story, but can pull out the little comparisons: I love that. This came across more as "Look at me and all the Jane Austen trivia I know and can spill on command!"

I felt there was a big disconnect between the storylines of this book. Mainly the Jane Austen experience and the engineer career. Neither seemed to really play on the other, to the point where I forgot either one was even important to the main character when she was so invested in one at a time.

Finally, the romance fell very short. Not only was it so simple and easy for the main character (that conflict was laughable), but we're talking a G rated romance. Several times throughout I just about yelled "Just kiss her already!" There were more forehead kisses and hand holding than any real romance.

I didn't hate it. I did enjoy it, but there were just too many aspects that didn't work for me. I just had much higher expectations.

2.5/5

I will pretty much read anything that is any kind of take on anything Jane Austen. The Austen Escape was super fun because it wasn't just a retelling of one book, it had aspects of them all and Regency era role playing to boot! I wanted to be in Bath at the Braithwaite house role playing along with Mary and Isabel. This book was everything a good Jane Austen book would be, full of equal parts drama and romance. My favorite character was definitely Nathan. I would recommend this book to any Austen fan!

In this contemporary romance, two lifelong girlfriends who have grown apart take a journey of self-discovery to the English town of Bath to enjoy a simulated Jane Austen experience at a fabulous Regency manor house.. There's a crowd of interesting characters, the setting is fun and there are plenty of Austen references. I've loved all Katherine Reay's books, especially--Dear Mr. Knightly--and this was a fun reading experience, too.

My Thoughts

I was excited to read this book, thinking it to be fun escapism. However, it proved to be so much more than that! Yes there was a romance and period dressing up, even the selection of characters revealed a subtle insight into their persona - but it is not just a simple retelling of a Jane Austen tale through modern eyes. The beauty and cleverness (if truth be told) of this story was placing someone from the present day into an Austen story and recounting it through their eyes and experiences. Combine that with homage paid to the great Jane Austen (‘Persuasion’ is here in all it’s glory with the misunderstandings and second chances) that one cannot help but be impressed.

“He twisted the book to see the spine. “Of course. Pride and Prejudice.” “I think they have one in every room.” “And why not? It’s a manual for life—setting right pride, prejudice, misconceptions, and self-illusions. Also some good fun.”

Oh! How I would love to go on such an ‘Austen Escape’ and lose myself in Regency England - that alone would have been a fun tale. Yet that was a mere backdrop, in some ways, to the true message behind this tale. This is a book about friendships, forgiveness, growth and having the strength to be yourself. Each of the characters here have a checkered past, things they struggled to move on from and it’s good to take the journey into a fresh start with them.

“simply enjoy the costumes, the carriage rides, and the long walks, then sit here and check e-mail, work, or watch television.”

Then, of course, there is the insurmountable Jane Austen. You will relish the tributes to her books, the clever insights into the characters and plot with the inclusion of many a good quote. Fans of Austen will appreciate the many references, yet anyone would enjoy this character driven tale whether you were an Austen addict or not. Having read Katherine Reay's books before, I knew that she draws you into both place and person. This book demonstrates her ability to seamlessly switch between an escape to Regency England combined with the high tech of our modern world - ipads included! She will engage you with relatable characters and instill a sense of hope in you with a touch of realism.

“I mustered up a smile and looped my arm through hers. “We shall walk. When there are serious matters to discuss, Austen women walk.”

Take a break - though phones are allowed - and step inside an Austen character, not to discover who they are, but who you are! It’s witty, it’s fun and I highly recommend it to Austen fans for a sprinkling of all the famous and well loved characters she created, plus a whole lot more.

“She wrote with such precision that a single phrase evoked an emotional response. She elicited laughter, warmth, and even a sense of awe. Across two hundred years, I recognized her characters in the here and now. She wrote about people I knew.”



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

This is the first book I have read by Katherine Reay, though I have been interested in her books for a while. I was very happy to receive an ARC of this one.

This story follows two women who have been friends since childhood, but have had a rocky relationship. They end up going for a two week Austen themed holiday together.

I found myself getting really invested in this story! Austen was one of the first authors that I really loved and it was wonderful to read so many quotes from all the novels throughout the story. I also found that many of the story lines and characters were reminiscent of Austen books.

I liked the characters and the story, the love story was nice but it was probably the only part that I thought was a bit on the weaker side.

A trip back to England is just what Mary needs, but once she's in Bath she starts to find out more about herself and her friend!

Being a huge Jane Austen fan and quickly becoming a Kathleen Reay fan (this is the third of her books I've read), I was excited to read The Austen Escape and snagged the ARC on NetGalley and reading it before even learning about the TLC Book Tour. Since that was a couple of months ago, I reread the novel to refresh the story (and the food) in my mind and I think I liked it even better the second time around.

I go back and forth on whether a Jane Austen 'escape'--like the one in the book (where groups of people spend time living in the Regency period and pretending to be characterless from Austen's works) is a dream vacation or my worst nightmare. I would love to visit Austen's stomping grounds and see the museums, houses and countryside where some of my favorite characters interacted but I have never been much of a costume person--Halloween makes me twitchy--so I don't know that I'd readily enjoy that part. Mary Davies, the main character of The Austen Escape has some similar feelings and wouldn't be going if her father hadn't convinced her that her friend Isabel needed her, and if Mary hadn't needed a handy escape from a failed project and a censuring new boss at work--her usual happy place. That there is some baggage with Mary and Isabel's friendship is readily apparent--and when Isabel forgets who she is and settles right into the pretending, Mary learns some hard truths about their friendship.

I liked Mary from the start, she is smart and has some good snark--something I always appreciate. She leans to the ordered and routine side of things so the changes to her life have her feeling out of her element. Isabel was harder to like. Although I warmed to her more and sympathized with her as her story and childhood were unveiled, there is a betrayal that I don't think I would be able to get over if I were Mary--not to mention the way she treated Mary even before things are revealed. Reay does a great job of setting the atmosphere of Braithwaite House and of Bath and of what a Jane Austen-themed house party would be like. For me the descriptions added a lot to the story and from a slower start, things really took off after Mary and Isabel got to England. The supporting characters are fun and there is romance, of course--it's chick-lit--but it is clean chick-lit so things are kept light.

An overall sweet and entertaining read that is a great escape itself--perfect to enjoy over a 'cuppa' and a few biscuits (or maybe some toast and jam or 'black butter'). If you don't enjoy or know your Austen at least a little (there is a handy Austen character overview in the front of the book to help), The Austen Escape won't have the same charm and probably isn't your book--but if like me, you are a Jane Austen lover, you will likely enjoy the fun.

I work in a high tech company and was delighted to read the description on the high tech world. It was quit realistic. I also really appreciated the idea of a woman in STEM as heroin, first time in a women fiction book.
Add to this that I really like Jane Austen and I can say this was a really good book for me.
The relationship between Mary, the main character, and Isabel, her best friend, was a bit toxic and maybe it would need some more clarification but on a general level this book is really good.

For fans of Austen and lovers of friendship/romance tales, this story is the best of both worlds...a trip to Regency mixed with modern affairs.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for letting me read an ARC of this book!
I was never an Austen girl growing up, but I have enjoyed many adaptations of her stories over the years. When I stumbled upon Katherine Reay’s books last year I was delighted by what lovely takes they were on familiar stories. Her books really spurred me to read Pride & Prejudice.
The Austen Escape might be my favorite yet — an engineer heroine, and a vacation to Regency Bath had me hooked from the beginning. This book was truly a delightful escape!

Another book to add to my top favorites of the year! At first I wondered if this book would be similar to others that have the characters dressing up and playacting in Regency form, but I needn't have worried- while there is a bit of that, it is taken to a higher level by Katherine Reay's unique writing style. This is a book that you just *feel*. While there is a great focus on the complex dynamics of the relationships Mary has with Isabel and Nathan, I loved that it delved just as deeply into her struggles with her job as an engineer and the part of her identity that is tied up in it. I loved her father and the influence he is on her life and creativity, he is such a great addition to the story and made it richer. I could relate to Mary's mixed feelings of resentment and love that she has for Isabel. There's something about growing up with a longtime friend that gives you so many experiences of good, bad, and in between that it's almost like family in how it shapes your personality. It was fascinating to see how Mary becomes more aware of Isabel's struggles and the way that she deals with the fallout of secrets that come to light. The simmering attraction between Nathan and Mary was delicious because the reader can tell how much they like the other but they are unaware of each other's interest... until they slowly become more brave in expressing that interest. It's not without conflict of course, and the anticipation while they worked things out was killing me- I just LOVED it!!! Highly recommend.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This novel started out in such a confusing manner that I put it down. Without understanding what this woman does at work or who anyone is, I'm expected to keep up with the story for far too long.

Given all the bad news that surrounds us all on a daily basis, we all deserve an escape. Just a small respite - about two weeks. That’s the idea surrounding Katherine Reay’s latest book, “The Austen Escape”.

Mary is an engineer. She likes things to be orderly. She has lived in the same apartment since college. She has been with her company back when it was just a garage start up. Mary has a crush on a consultant her company hired, Nathan. A friendly girl with a small circle of friends, she is fiercely loyal - sometimes to a fault. That includes her childhood friend Isabel, who hasn’t matured with age. Isabel is rich, flashy, and can be childish - her life (and phone) puts people into acronym labels. Isabel is writing her thesis on Jane Austen, and invites/coerces Mary into accompanying her on a free trip to Bath for “the true Austen experience”. During the trip, each person adopts and maintains an Austen character.

What could possibly go wrong?

I have read most of Reay’s work. Each book is like a vacation itself. They are light reads, with classic references galore. This book even provided a short “who’s who” Austen cheat sheet. But for some reason this book just didn’t resonate with me. I think it had a lovely beginning and a strong ending, but the middle just seemed, well, muddled.

Perhaps it is because I haven’t read all of Austen’s novels. In fact, “Persuasion” has now jumped several slots on my TBR. It could be there were too many characters. There were too many subplots. The descriptions of Isabel’s illness made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t understand their resolution. Perhaps the whole “sidekick” angle touched a bit too close to home.

That being said, it is still a good book. The descriptions of the locations are amazing. I could see the rooms of the house as if I was present. I liked Mary’s father - he was amusing but reassuring. And the speeches towards the end (especially the one with Mary, Karen and Nathan) were inspiring.

I like the idea of taking a step back to see things clearly. I am also personally challenged by the idea of looking at Austen with fresh eyes. Perhaps this is a book that I will catch up to in time. I look forward to next year’s book. I think we can all use an annual breath of fresh air.

"An escape . . . that holds a certain allure."

". . . I love books. The weight. The smell."

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay is simply delightful. A fan of Jane Austen's novels will love all the references, let alone the setting of this contemporary piece. A homage to Austen's novels, The Austen Escape isn't just about fun costume play, but finding solace in the past, in literature and in the joy of life. It's about friendships and relationships that endure the test of time as well as those that are seemingly indifferent or broken.


"Jane Austen understood people, and she was funny. . . but you can't expect to understand them fully with one quick reading."

Katherine Reay has a way of interweaving life into the make belief of her novels. In The Austen Escape, it's two-fold as one character dissociate with reality and in turn find comfort and truth as a character in a famous classic. The romance takes a back seat as we dive more into the friendship and relationships of these characters. However, when it's time, the romance goes into high gear. I enjoyed every bit of The Austen Escape and I'd highly recommend an escape into the land of Austen as well as a good story.


Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

Please note, quotes were taken from an ARC, and therefore an uncorrected proof copy. Please refrain from sharing these quotes unless first verified with release copy. Thank you.

~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~

Mary Davies is an Austen Fan, a surprise perhaps considering she is a very practical person, an industrial engineer. She is in a bit of a rut at work, unable to figure out something vital to the completion of an invention of hers. The company she works for is changing, the atmosphere is changing, and it doesn’t take much for her father to convince her to take a vacation with her best friend.

Isabel is that friend, in fact, she is more like a sister to Mary. Their relationship hasn’t been the best of late. Isabel’s father is paying for them both to travel to England to have an Austen holiday. They will spend two weeks dressing and behaving as characters from Jane Austen books.

A time that should be all laughs and silliness ends up more dramatic when Isabel has a mental issue. She wakes up one morning and honestly believes she is the character she is portraying and that they are indeed living in Regency times. All they can do is allow her to carry on with her belief until hopefully, she snaps back to herself as she has in the past.

To help her through the ordeal a guy she fancies at work but who has only been her friend through the years joins her in England. It seems he knows Isabel too, why didn’t Mary know that?

I liked this story but it wasn’t what I was expecting. The beginning chapters were quite slow, and it wasn’t until Mary landed in England that I became more engrossed in the book. I would have liked there to have been more role-playing written about, and a little more romance too. That said, it was definitely a novelty reading references to engineering work amongst a story involving Regency settings. Isabel and Mary were deep characters with a lot of history between them. Their relationship had been floundering but their time away is a big step towards mending some bridges. I expected a very light-hearted story, instead, it was very much more complex.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.

There sure have been a lot of Austen-related in the last few years - books updating the Austen stories in a new setting and books immersing modern people into an Austenesque world (and Katherine Rey has written some of them). In some ways this does both by taking paying house guests into a regency setting, asking them to choose which they character they would most like to be from an Austen novel and then allowing them insights into Austen's novels through thinking and being in her world.

The main character, Mary Davies, is a reluctant participant, dragged along by her (so-called) best friend Isabel, a doctoral student writing her thesis on Austen. She lives in Austin in Texas and works as an engineer for an innovative technology company but has been having problems with her latest invention and fears losing her job. However, she soon falls in love with the charm of Braithwaite House, the regency mansion near Bath where they will spend the next two weeks and and decides to enjoy herself. That is until she becomes worried about Isabel who appears to be too strangely immersed in her character. Mary and Isabel grew up together as children but something has not been right between them lately and their experiences at Braithwaite House will reveal a lot that wasn't clear before.

As someone who has read all Austen's novels, I enjoyed all the guests and the characters they chose to play and the inclusion of many scenes and lines from the novels that were sprinkled throughout the book. There is even an Austen style romance featuring a 'military man'. Definitely one for Austen fans!