Cover Image: The Jane Austen Society

The Jane Austen Society

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Member Reviews

I listened to the audiobook of this title and enjoyed it very much. It's great for fans of Jane Austen.

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Set in the years after WWII, eight individuals living in Chawton, Hampshire come together through their love of the works of Jane Austen. Living in the town that Austen spent many years of her life, they form a society with the goal to preserve the once home of the famous author. This ensemble cast is unique in their motivations but all have the same driving force to maintain the town and maintain the legacy of Austen. This novel will rekindle your love of Jane Austen and gives intriguing storylines of the villagers of Chawton.

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The story was sweet and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed the talks about Jane Austen’s works and her background information as a Jane Austen fan myself.

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***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
An utterly charming story set in a small town!

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This could have been sooooo good! Jane Austen, historical fiction. Right up my alley. This was just far too slow and I wasn't feeling g anything for it. I think I started and stopped, read a few books in between.

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This is a great book for fans of Jane Austen, but I definitely struggled through this one. I'm a fan of historical fiction, but this was a slow one for me.

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While I was so excited to read this novel, I must admit that I was disappointed. I started reading the book multiple times and I just couldn't get into it. I didn't affiliate with the characters at all. I loved the look of the book jacket and the description of the storyline. I received an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

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I love Jane Austen so naturally I thought I would love The Jane Austen Society. However, I found it to be quite dull at some point I r3ealized I was falling asleep. I stuck with it and ended up really liking the book in the end. If you are not a Jane Austen fan, you probably will not like/get this book.

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This beautiful book is the perfect homage to Jane Austen and timeless novels. The characters feel like more modern Austen characters, reminding us that Austen’s characters are as real in any decade as they were when she wrote them.

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I fell in love with The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner within the early pages of the book. The setting of Chawton, England, the last two Austen lived in, and the eclectic group of characters all connected to her legacy were charming in a way that reminded me of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society. I absolutely love the idea of this group of individuals bonding and healing while discussing Jane Austen, who also happens to be one of my all-time favorite authors. The incredible research and detail included within this book makes me want to pick up Pride & Prejudice again and reread an old favorite.


Thank you to @netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Famed British novelist Jane Austen wrote novels that have transcended time. Her novels have been talked about, dissected and the basis of plays and movies.
She has fan clubs and regular pilgrimages to her birthplace and final home from people all over the world. Jane Austen was able to blend just the right amount of humor, charm, common sense and moral judgement in her characters that even modern day readers find relatable.
Austen's story-telling knew no boundaries and created a real passion in her writing. Her characters evoke emotion that border on the surreal. Wikipedia describes Austen's writing style as a "combination of parody, burlesque, irony, free indirect speech and a degree of realism."
Jane Austen was only 41 years old when she died and for her fans the regret is that she didn't write anymore books.
But what if there was another Jane Austen book or one that has all of the qualities and characteristics of a Jane Austen story?
What if this book was set in the small English village of Chawton, which Austen fans know as her final home?
What if a group of people, a laborer, a young widow, a local country doctor and a movie star band together to preserve Jane Austen's legacy and home from people looking to profit over history?
What if each one of these people had their own story of their hopes, love, lost opportunities and tragedy that bears semblance to characters from many of Austen's novels like Emma and Pride and Prejudice?
What if this book was set post WWII as a historical fiction novel that is less a singular tale but really a story within a story that finds the reader wondering if author Natalie Jenner is possibly related to Jane Austen as the only explanation that makes sense?
To have written a story that is Austenesque while telling a story about the legacy of Jane Austen is both a stroke of genius and a touching tribute all rolled into one.
So as to what if such a book exists, well read The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner to find out.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheJaneAustenSociety #NatalieJenner

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I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Jenner's novel is delightful. An eccentric yet real cast of characters all connected by their love of Miss Jane Austen. Her book hits all the right emotional notes without becoming maudlin or cartoonish. Content warning for sensitive readers: pregnancy loss, death, mild references of drug use and abuse,

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

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This book was an excellent book. I recommend it to readers who enjoy a touch of history in their fiction and Jane Austen. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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I thought the book was very well written, albeit a little slow for my taste. I think I would have been more enthralled by it had I read the works of Jane Austen prior to reading. There are a lot of spoilers for those books! That is something I hadn't considered before starting. This is definitely a book for Austen fans, not necessarily for those who haven't dabbled in her work.

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slow moving but good characters. Seven mismatched individuals strive to save Austen's house, library, furniture, etc. Love blooms for some and fades for others. Kind of boring.

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A delightful book. Austen fans will definitely enjoy the Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Thank for a copy of this book.

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This is a book that isn't for me, but I can definitely see the audience for it! I feel like it's one book clubs are going to eat up with a spoon, it has literary references, a small town, and a collection of characters.

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What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

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I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was FANTASTIC!!!!! I loved it. You don't even need to be into Jane Austen to love it. It is just well written goodness!

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

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As a longtime Jane Austen fan, I really enjoyed this book! It was cozy and warm throughout, and is a delightful mix of historical fiction, English village life, and all things Austen. The plot focuses on a variety of individuals who are all burdened with their own private hardships and turn toward Austen's novels for comfort and solace. When a local business attempts to purchase the Austen property, the villagers come together to preserve her legacy in the village. It was a charming, feel-good read that I really enjoyed and recommend for all Austen lovers.

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