Set mainly in the years just after World War II in the quiet village of Chawton, where Jane Austen spent the last years of her life, <i>The Jane Austen Society</i> is poised to tickle the fancy of every Austen lover. It’s as you would expect, a fluffy affair bursting to the seams with references to the classic favorites—<i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, <i>Emma</i>, Persuasion</i>, and Mansfield Park</i> in particular.

Chawton is sleepy, where the biggest drama in town can be the list of books taught to school children or who took a walk with whom. But there’s something very charming as Jenner traces the quotidian hum-drum of village life. Though a real Jane Austen Society was founded in 1940, author Natalie Jenner conceives a fictional set of 8 founding members with varied histories, much like a merry band of misfits: a farmer, a famous Hollywood actress, a country doctor, a former schoolteacher, a scullery maid, a solicitor, an auctioneer, and the descendant of Jane Austen herself. Beneath the veneer of calm lives, they deal with great personal tragedies, family struggles, and losses from the war. What gradually unifies them is a common passion for reading and discussing Jane Austen’s works and history.

Jumping between such a large cast of characters, I ultimately lost the ability to develop a deep connection with each one over the course of the novel. Despite the smattering of witty repartees and expressions of candor, I found that heavier moments could end up coming across as disingenuous or emotionally manipulative. Some chunk of humanity was missing that would let me feel these were fully fleshed out characters.

This book focuses heavily on the healing power of Austen, drawing parallels between Austen’s deep understanding of the human condition—of love, of duty, of freedom—and the intertwined lives of Chawton’s inhabitants. If nothing else, this will inspire any reader, new or familiar, to crack open Austen’s books. Start with <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, eh?

*Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner is a clever, slow-building character-driven story about an unlikely group of people who come together to save the Chawton home of their favorite author, Jane Austen. It's a charming little story filled with engaging characters I grew to like if not exactly love. They' are flawed and authentic, and their conversations and reactions are believable and appropriate in the pre-WWII setting.

The timeline shifts somewhat rapidly a few times which left me momentarily confused, and there are a million or so references to and quotes from various Austen novels, but the author cleverly uses them to both move the story forward and provide insight into the characters - all of whom have a deep and abiding love for all things Austen.

I haven't read Austen for decades, but reading The Jane Austen Society definitely brought back memories and made me want to dig out my old dog-eared copies and read them again. I'm sure this book would be a lot more enjoyable - and would also be a deeper read - having done that.

That said, even with my limited knowledge of Austen, I really did enjoy this book. It can absolutely stand on its own as a story of love and loss, of moving forward and of putting yourself out there. I can well imagine how much a true fan of Jane Austen would enjoy The Jane Austen Society,

A must-read for book lovers, Canadian author Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society delighted me with its complex characters, insightful literary discussions, and unexpected plot twists. From the title, I expected another book club novel, a bit of light-hearted fluff providing a much-needed break from the Covid-19 pandemic and the serious, sometimes depressing, novels I so often find myself reading. Jenner gave me so much more!

The novel opens in June 1932 with a British village farmer lying on his back atop a low stone wall like the “sculpted ancient rulers” atop their shrines he had read about in books. Little does he expect a young American woman to disturb his rest by hesitantly explaining that she is lost and looking for the house where Jane Austen had lived. Little does he know how that brief chance meeting will shape his life and the lives of several others in Chawton, Hampshire, more than a decade later.

This slowly evolving story of literature’s power to transform lives centers, in part, on five Chawton residents: Adam Berwick, the farmer; Benjamin Gray, the village doctor; Adeline Lewis, a stubborn young teacher; Adeline’s star student, Evie Stone, forced to leave school to become a serving girl; and Frances Knight, the spinster daughter of the dying owner of an estate once inherited by Jane Austen’s brother. By adding in Andrew Forrester, a lawyer in neighboring Alton; Mimi Harrison, an American movie star; and Yardley Sinclair of Sotheby’s auction house in London, Jenner offers readers an even more diverse mix of humanity, each member with his or her flaws, losses, and dreams. Brought together in hopes of purchasing and saving a cottage where Jane Austen spent her later years on the Knight estate, each character battles personal demons while shedding light on favorite Austen characters, who shed light on Jenner’s characters.

On her Instagram account, Jenner describes herself as “former bookshop owner, recovered lawyer & sudden author.” Reading The Jane Austen Society, I found it hard to believe that this is her debut novel. What could have been flat characters took on their own captivating, sometimes heart-breaking, lives. I found myself wanting the best for each of them and then realizing that the best might not be what I had imagined. Perhaps most of all, I have found myself wanting to reread Jane Austen’s novels, read so many years ago, so that I can reread The Jane Austen Society. While readers do not need to be Austen aficionados to love Jenner’s book, I am sure that I would see even more to love after reacquainting myself with Austen’s equally flawed characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Natalie Jenner for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Natalie Jenner for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

This is one of the titles included in our summer reading camp through Booksparks, and I was so excited to be able to get it early!

I loved the setting of the 1940s; this gave it a bit of a historical fiction twist. I am not a huge Jane Austen fanatic, but that didn’t make this a difficult read. It read perfect as a standalone. This was incredibly enjoyable, well written, and absorbing. The characters were developed beautifully and the plot developed swimmingly. This was heartwarming and felt like a big hug when you need it most. Most definitely reminded me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Thank you to those named above for the opportunity to read and review this novel!

With characters that could be out of Austen, Natalie Jenner has created a feel good, memorable tale of pulling together for preservation. An eclectic group forms together to preserve Jane Austen' s home. Rich in detail about the libraries and the books, this is geared toward any bibliophile or Austen fan. Charming love lines between the characters enhance the action in the story. The debates and theories about Austen' s work are little treats along the way. Me? I'm an Emma fan.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

This book has all the right ingredients for a charming book about a sleepy village but I only got into it after the halfway mark. The first half was setting up the second half and although I can appreciate that, because not a lot happened, I wasn't lured in. There were a huge number of references to Austen's work and as I'm not really a classics reader I wonder if someone who is would have gotten more out of this one. Maybe Austen lovers would appreciate this a lot more than I did.

This is the perfect read for Austen lovers! The story line references her work a lot- making this the perfect cozy, comfort read. I enjoyed how the main characters really came together to fight for their love of books. The story is built around saving some of Austen's memory and follows the characters through their journey. This story references Jane Austen's novels- so like I said, will be familiar to those who love her work. I truly found the story to real me in from the beginning. I will be recommending. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Jane Austen Society is set in Chawton, England, following the Second World War – where Jane Austen spent her last years. When Austen’s legacy is threatened, an eclectic group of townspeople band together to save her home and heritage. Struggling with personal tragedies and loss, these individuals unite around their love of Jane Austen and find themselves aiding each other as much as they help save Austen’s legacy. The Jane Austen Society is full of fascinating tidbits about the author and her tales, but it also highlights the importance of community and relationships, demonstrating that both can be found in unlikely places. Natalie Jenner’s tale is historical fiction at its finest – she transports the reader to another time and place filled with unique and authentic characters.

If you like Jane Austen then you will really enjoy this story about a group of people who loved to read Jane Austen. They are an odd group who you would not think they could all love to read the same books but it brings them together to protect the little that was left about Jane Austen after one hundred and more years. It is the end of the second world war and most of them live in Chowton where Jane wrote her last three books. They all have things going on in their lives that either now or in the past have sadness. A movie star comes to join them in her love of Jane Austen as well as a man from Sotheby's auction house in London. It is a moving story that will keep your interest from beginning to end.

This is a story of “a country doctor, an old maid, a schoolmarm, a bachelor farmer, a fey auctioneer, a conflict-averse solicitor, a scullery maid, and one Hollywood movie star.” Each one has a story of their own, a love for Jane Austen and a life shaped by pain and loss. Together they eventually form The Jane Austen Society to help preserve the life and writings of this iconic author. The setting is post WWII in a quaint village of Chawton, England. This is a charming book for any Jane Austen fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin Press for my copy.

I throughly enjoyed the debut novel by Natalie Jenner. Her characters were engaging and her descriptions are so vivid that you can picture each scene playing out in front of you as you read. As a longtime fan of Jane Austen, I truly believe that Natalie has done her memory justice, and has created an engage story that will be appreciated by all fans of Austen. This is a must read book, and will be on my list of summer reading recommendations for my readers on The Avid Pen.

A group of people get together by design in their pursuit of preserving and honouring Austen’s legacy. The life observations are keenly felt.

Some conventional Austenesque pairings are cleverly done, an unconventional one is my favourite however this by no means make it a historical romance. I really enjoyed the discussions of Austen characters by the protagonists, their different takes added perspective to my understanding of the beloved ones, whether main or secondary.

This is Austen nirvana.

Such a perfect little book with interesting characters who have little to do with each other than they adore their village, Chawton, Hampshire and its most important resident of yore, Jane Austen. It is really a book within a book because what if anything are the characters doing but paying homage to their heroine by living their lives “one step ahead of the characters and one step behind Austen”. The reader is reminded that writers like Austen and the Bronte Sister are meant to be read and reread and read once again. There is always something to be discovered, a parsing of a sentence, a thought, an emotion.

I loved this book with its devotion to its time, all things Jane Austen, and so much “thwarted energy” between the pages and among the characters. I find it so hard to believe that the author had such difficulty bringing this book into the public purview and hope it encourages others with Ms. Jenner’s love of subject and ability to convey that love to never give up.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of Natalie Jenner’s debut novel.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

I cannot express in enough words how much I adored this novel and made me love Jane Austen even more and certainly made me want to binge some Jane Austen!

This beautiful novel spans a great many years focusing on the small town of Chawton, where 150 years ago this was the final home of Jane Austen. Now, the regal home of Jane Austen has been passed down through various family members and is slowly becoming more and more dilapidated. With the last bit of the beautiful Austen thread seeming to wear away, a group of unexpected people become friends and allies in the pursuit to save her legacy; and in the process, they may even save themselves.

Such a beautiful and uplifting story of small town folks who may know of each other, but were never really friends and then a few strangers thrown in the mix, and in the end become a family. If you loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society then you will also adore this novel. This has seriously reinvigorated my love for this author and her novels that even today speak volumes about the strength of women and being able to be strong and live a good life without losing their spirit. I adored this and cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.

This was a little slow for my taste. Austen fans will appreciate all the book references but other than that - it was just ok. This book has gotten rave reviews so perhaps I missed something - if you are a fan of Jane Austen, give it a try because you may love it.

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3.5 stars for charming historical fiction with enough Jane talk to help sustain a fan's interest and enough character-driven development to please readers of post-war period pieces. The little village of Chawton and the estate there (where resides the last of Jane Austen's relatives) are beautifully drawn, and the book is populated with a slightly quirky cast of characters brought together by village life, their love of Austen's writing, and their increasingly urgent need to help preserve something of her history there. I think the blurbs are correct that fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society would be pleased with this one as well. ⁣
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I felt like there were some pacing issues — the first half in particular progressed very slowly for me — and some realistic dialogue that was just a shade too realistic, tipping into vague at times. It was occasionally like listening from the next room and missing some of those important nonverbal elements that flesh out a full understanding of what's being said. ⁣
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Overall, though, an interesting premise and angle, solid writing, and an enjoyable read.
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Content notes: substance use, addiction, grief, loss of baby, sexual assualt⁣
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While this book moved pretty slowly for me, it was a very good and intriguing story that mirrors a few of Austen's favorite plot elements.

I appreciated how well the story resolved, and the characters were believable and ring true.

Recommended for Austen fans.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and Netgalley for the complimentary review copy of The Jane Society. All opinions are my own.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner is a fun fictional account of the beginning of the Jane Austen Society. The author combines factual places and fictional characters to create a story of friendship through a common interest. All of the characters are pretty much loners and most have always lived in the same town. They come together in order to preserve Jane Austen's books and memorabilia for future fans.

This is a very enjoyable and fun historical fiction that Austen fans should most definitely read. The characters each have their own problems but they are all passionate about Jane Austen. The book is about friendships and bonds. Some are old and some are new but everyone finds something they didn't even know they were missing.

General Fiction (Adult)
Historical Fiction
Release Date: May 26, 2020

In post-war England, a mélange of people are brought together by a shared love of Jane Austen.

It’s no secret that I love Jane Austen. Like so many others, she is one of my favorite authors and rereading her stories and finding new books about her is a comfort for me. I also love reading about post-war England. So I was immediately drawn to The Jane Austen Society.

I think the overall theme of this novel is how books bring us together. How they can change our lives. The power of literature, in that it can carry us through hard times and help us to learn more about ourselves. It was entrancing to see the way Jane Austen’s stories helped to forge friendships between the people who eventually became this novel’s version of the Jane Austen Society. Each were very different people, yet they all shared a deep love for this timeless author and it brought them together. It gave them a community at a time when they all needed it most.

Sitting there on the bench together, with no one else to confide in, Dr. Gray and Adeline felt a strange connection through these books.

That there might be a place where people were not constantly competing against each other for their very sustenance, but were instead helping each other survive through war and injury and poverty and pain, seemed as much something out of a Jane Austen as anything else she could have hoped to find.

That’s why she lasts, like Shakespeare. It’s all there, all of life, all the stuff that counts, and keeps counting, all the way to here, to you.

My only complaint is there were a few risqué moments, mainly between Mimi and Jack, and with these same two characters there was some language. These parts were small and sparse enough that I was able to overlook them and still enjoy the novel. If it hadn’t been for these things, this would have been a 5 star read for me.

Janeites, you must read this book. It’s not only a love letter to an author we all love so dearly, but it displays the resiliency of the human spirit beautifully. Right now, we could use that more than ever.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a delightful read this was and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story begins in Chawton, Hampshire in 1932 and go to 1947. Chawton is the home of author Jane Austen and the locals fuss because tourists come to try and get a look at where she lived and wrote her novels. The characters in this book all have had tragedies and problems in their lives but they are all drawn together because they all love reading and especially reading Jane Austen books. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this wonderful story that I had a hard time putting down. I have never read Jane Austen's books but I have several on my list now.