When it is snowy and cold outside, superspeed readers like me can read 150 - 200+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today. LOL

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.  

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a labourer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come.

I love historical fiction and this was a great book - and I was delighted to see it is by a Canadian author - Jennifer Robson should watch out, Natalie Jenner is in the running for the best Canadian historical fiction writer! I love Jane Austen and re-watch "Lost in Austen" and "Austenland" more than it is healthy for me, along with my collection of movies based on her actual books. 

The characters are fascinating and their journey in this book was so enjoyable - their journeys dealing with the PTSD of WWII was well written and understandable by those of us who have never lived through such an event. This is a perfect book club pick - if you don't meet in the summer, make it your choice for September of 2020!!!

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use by "🙏-ed Social Influencer Millennials" on Instagram and Twitter..get a real job, people!) so let's give it some cuppas of fabulous Yorkshire Gold ☕☕☕☕☕

What's lovely about this book is that you don't need to be a Jane Austen fanatic to understand the literary references. But fair warning - there's a lot of them! Every other page mentions Elizabeth and Darcy and the book "Sense and Sensibility" is mentioned quite often. If you're a classic book lover, this book reads like you're having a conversation with your best friend. This is also a perfect book club pick. It's the perfect length, the chapters are easy to sum up, the characters are fun to talk about and the plot isn't difficult to follow.

What makes this book different from other Austen explorations is that, instead of taking place during modern day like "Lost in Austen" or "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries," this book is set during the 1940s. This gives the story a unique historical setting. It was interesting to have Austen referenced during this time period, especially since Austen movie adaptations were new back then. It was so exciting when Jack was talking about producing a new "Sense and Sensibility" movie!

I love how consistent the plot was too. For example, the story began with one of our main characters, Adam, and it ended with him too. This circular plot was easy to follow and enjoy. This is a fun vacation read or beach read because it's a standalone novel. It's a truly beautiful story and perfect for fans of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society!"

Honestly, I was expecting this book to be a little better but it wasn’t the worst book I’ve read this year. The characters did get a little annoying here and there, but the writing wasn’t bad.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although the writing is not bad and any fan of Jane Austen's works will love the references and analysis dropped in, there is a scene early on in the book that is completely out of place in its obscenity and sordidness. This more or less ruined the reading experience for me. Those who will be most drawn to a book about "The Jane Austen Society" will not be expecting that.

What an enjoyable surprise this was.
It was like being in a larger than life Jane Austen bookclub, and yet each of the participants in this book club like read had their own personalities, lives, struggles, and wonderful human connections.
Bravo!

The Jane Austen Society follows the lives of Austen-lovers in post-WWII Chawton. The plot is intricate and well-paced with the right amount of Austen discourse/debate for the knowledgeable reader. In fact, the continued references demand a solid base knowledge of Austen’s work and life to fully enjoy the exchanges. 

The characters are well developed and grow slowly throughout the novel. Perhaps...too slowly. I admit I was extremely frustrated with some decisions made by the characters and the amount of detail included at times, but the writing has a beautiful tone. I did skim some of the sections that felt too wordy. I was very invested in the outcome of the story and the characters themselves. This is not a lighthearted romp but a true drama with heart-wrenching turns and the type of ending of which Austen would approve. I enjoyed the novel but will not revisit. I will read what this author writes next though.   

For fans of Jane Austen, Austen spin-offs, and works similar to The Literary Potato Peel Pie Society. 

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

A wonderful lovely read.A small town a group of characters that come alive.a wonderful story of love for Jane Austen a delightful read.#netgalley#St.martinsbooks

A joy to read! Austen fans will love it! 

As always, thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.  It's a winner!
#TheJaneAustenSociety #NetGalley