I loved this book!! Great story!! Love Jane austen books!! Received this book from St. Martin's press from netgally!!

In the small village of Chawton, England, shortly after the end of World War II, a number of inhabitants find themselves coming together over the shared love of Jane Austen’s writing. And it just so happens that Chawton was the last place Jane Austen lived.

A middle-aged doctor has been widowed for some time and finds himself lonely and staring down some demons. He has a fine friendship with a young woman who grew up in town and taught at the school briefly before getting married, then being widowed herself soon after, thanks to the war. An American actress visits a decade before, just to see the little place Austen called home, and ends up going back to Chawton later on with her fiancé. A man whose father and brothers died years earlier has been quietly doing work around the village but also quietly savoring Austen’s works. The middle-aged and single only child of the man who owns the Great House is a fan as well, and she even has the blood of Jane’s oldest brother in her veins, and the cottage Jane lived in at the end of her life is part of the estate.

As each deals with heartache or losses of some kind, they are buoyed by their many hours spent immersed in the words of the talented writer. And one comes up with an idea: to create a place, a museum of sorts, a destination for pilgrimages, for others who love those words just as much. There are definitely obstacles, but as they work through those toward their shared goal, many pieces will fall into place, even more than they might have planned.

The Jane Austen Society is a pleasant visit to postwar England, to a small village where people all know each other and look out for each other. It is certainly a love letter to Jane Austen, among many other books that seek to do honor to that writer who has made many laugh, weep, and fall in love with her wonderful characters. This novel itself, of course, though it walks in those exalted shoes, doesn’t have the graceful and confident gait of the one it pays homage to: indeed, it is tolerable, but not captivating enough to tempt me to reread it. A light and enjoyable read, though I’ll forget about it soon enough.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen then this book is for you! If you aren't, then it might not be as interesting to you. The story takes place throughout both WWI and WWII and the author does a fantastic job of placing the reader in England during this time period.

The story is about a group of eight people who are brought together by their love of Jane Austen. It's loaded with reference's to Austen's work and is for the most part an uplifting, pleasurable to read story. I'm not typically the biggest fan of historical fiction, but I enjoyed this one!

Sweet and imaginative story. I am glad to have read it. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to read it.

I am a big fan of Jane Austen—so I usually avoid these sorts of books, which to me are co-opting Austen’s talent and fame to sell mostly mediocre novels. But “The Jane Austen Society” by Natalie Jenner had a few things going for it: good pre-publication notices and a World War II and immediate post war English setting that is catnip to me. I’m glad I made the exception and read this one; because the story of how multiple people—each struggling with his or her own problems (the death of a spouse, disinheritance, and isolation, to name a few)—come together to preserve Jane Austen’s home in Chawton is a charming treat for Austen lovers. One caveat: “The Jane Austen Society” will be much more enjoyable if you’ve read Austen’s six complete novels, as the characters frequently reference the books (and specific plot lines) in their conversations; it’s also fun to predict what will happen to various characters and couples based on their similarities to Austen’s own characters. (But do give it a complete pass if you, like Mark Twain, inexplicably “want to dig [Austen] up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”)

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Author: Natalie Jenner

Ch: 30 Plus Epilogue

Pg: 320

Series:

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press


I didn’t know what to think when I started reading this one, but I love all things Austen so I wanted to give this one a try. The Jane Austen society by Natalie Jenner takes place in England after World War II when some of the villagers are determined to save Jane Austen’s legacy.

I loved seeing the different characters come together because of their love of Austen. I also love that you get chapters and POV of views from most of the main characters.

It was nice to visit a part of Jane Austen’s England even during a pandemic from the comfort of my own chair. This novel gave me The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society feels.

I would recommend this book to fans of

I look forward to other books by this author.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I absolutely hate to say this but I really struggled to finish this book. It surprised me because I love Jane Austen, but it felt slow and it seemed to take forever for the members to come together and actually form the society. I did like that the book seemed to be trying very hard to pay homage to Austen. Love for her oozed out of every page.

This is a delightful book.

As a Jane Austen fan,bibliophile and fan of post-war novels this ticks all the boxes.Being a avid reader of Miss Austen isn't a necessity but it will add depth to the experience.The weaving of books as a way to explore loss,PTSD and life makes for a beautiful book experiences.

This a fantastic book that Jane Austen fans will truly appreciate. It was fun to see Austen talked about in a different era. I think the message of community is really needed right now. I feel that the characters were relatable and easy to connect with.
A must-read for Austen fans!

I always enjoy a good historical fiction book. There were a lot of characters (when I feel overwhelmed with characters I usually make a cheat sheet). Loved the setting. Jenner had a a wonderful way of making me feel like I was right there. Many have compared to the feeling of Guernsey and I couldn't agree more.
I recommend this book!

Jane Austen fans and readers will enjoy this novel set in post-war Chawton and filled with Austen's legacy. Astute readers will notice bits of each of Jane's stories in the characters of The Jane Austen Society: a little pride, some prejudice, a bit Persuasion.

"Adam loved being in this world, transported, where people were honest with each other, but also sincerely cared for each other, no matter their rank."

I consider myself an "Austenite" and wanted to love this book, but it fell flat in so many areas. Jenner took time on the page to discuss and attempt to build her characters but overall, they were uninspiring and one-dimensional. Moreover, all this character building, left the resolution rushed and choppy.

I DNF this one unfortunately. The story did not capture my attention like I thought it would, and I was really bummed. I may try again later and see if it's any better for me

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a Jane Austen fan. I thought the author did a great job of bringing new life into Austen’s characters through the conversations and personalities of the characters in the society. This was a very satisfying read, albeit a bit slow in places. But I thought the plot was done well and did Austen justice. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early release edition of this book.

The Jane Austen Society, by Natalie Jenner, is a loving tribute to the works of Jane Austen and the millions of readers who cherish her books. Set shortly after WWII, in the small town where Austen lived the last eight years of her life, this novel brings together a strange but endearing group of characters. Most suffered great loss, and each character is trying to regain balance and security.

I confess that I fell in love with these characters, the project they initiated, and the love they had for each other. Jenner handles the discussions of Austen’s books with all of the respect they so deserve. While I have read several of the books, I am newly motivated to dive into the others that I have not read. As a diversion from the troubles of today’s world, this novel is perfect. Although I think this is a satisfying read for almost anyone, I am sure that even passing familiarity with Jane Austen’s books will enhance a reader’s enjoyment. For me, it was a five-star winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure.

#TheJaneAustenSociety #NetGalley

Set in the post WWII era, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY by Natalie Jenner is a story about characters who unite based on their love of Jane Austen. I am sure that her many fans will truly enjoy this novel. However, I found it to be quite slow in starting out and, honestly, did not have the patience to "meet" and keep track of the farmer, doctor, widow, actress, and others who strive to maintain Austen's memory in the village of Chawton, England where she once lived. Other readers have felt very differently; THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was a LibraryReads selection for May 2020 and received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. Therefore, consider giving Jenner's debut novel a try, especially if you liked The Chilbury Ladies' Choir and/or The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

I absolutely adored this book! It's going to end up being one of my most favorite books of the entire year. Anyone who loves Jane Austen NEEDS to read this book. It's 100% a winner for me!

I fell in love with this story on page one. The characters pull at your heart and the storyline flows so eloquently. You’ll fall in love with The Jane Austen Society. Thank you NetGalley!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I ended up waiting so I could listen to this on audio and loved every single second. I will definitely be revisiting again in the future and recommending it.

I read this book in a time in my life where I needed to be uplifted, and the ending circumstances of the book’s characters were exactly that. Very neatly wrapped up in the most beautiful of ways.

I love all things Austen!

As Natalie Jenner quotes in her novel “The Jane Austen Society”, ‘But one can always read Austen’; I can definitely read about her at any time!

I was enamored with the idea of a society being created to preserve Jane Austen’s home and legacy! Even if you don’t know who Jane Austen is, you will feel the pull of this desire to hold on tight to her memories, and more!

We meet each member of the Society along the way, and as they create relationships with one another we feel their bonds growing! I was touched, moved and often inspired!

With an overall message of hope, I found this book to be truly delightful!

One that often had me smiling, because it simply radiated warmth! I am so happy I had the chance to read this story!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.