This was cute but didn't quite hit the mark for me. It didn't grab my attention right away and I wanted more chemistry.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I am not necessarily a fan of Jane Austen's work, I wanted to try this book.

Maddy Shaw is a writer that has a column in a London publication that was ceremoniously fired for an unknown reason. On Valentines Day, she has to go a podcast with a crime novelist and they did not hit it off. Afterwards, Maddy finds out she inherited a house in a local village, but she has to live in it for one year before she can sell it. She takes in a boarder to help bring in income without knowing who it is. It is Cameron Massey - the crime writer.

As the year progresses, misunderstandings and hilarity ensues along the lines of what I have told are Jane Austen novels.

I absolutely loved this story! Set in a small British village, with wonderful main characters and a cute romance. Add a dog in the mix and Jane Austen references, and I was thoroughly entertained.

Maddy Shaw loses her job as agony aunt but inherits a large house in a small village from a distant relative she didn’t even know.
She meets her new neighbours and even takes a lodger. To her surprise, the task of organising the annual literary festival was also part of her inheritance.

The only requirement is that she has to live in the house for a year before she is allowed to sell it. While counting down the days, Maddy gets more and more involved in village life.

ADORE IT!

I'm a huuuuge fan of Jane Austen so any book with her motif is on my TBR list.
and God, this one was soooo cute!

We have Jane and Darcy. We have two fans of literature with different opinion on the Austen's books.
Family secrets, small communities, beautiful English landscapes and story full of books, old manuscripts and beautiful friendships which turned into something more.

Delightful, beautiful, moving and perfect for fans of Austen

Love love loved this!!! This was such a cozy romance. I loved the characters and the setting, everything was so cute and the little mystery touch was great.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

This book was really cute!! I liked the clear research done around Jane Austen as it’s always risky using a famous persons name unless you know actual things about them but this was really good. It was easy to lose yourself in this and just read something easy, funny and something that gave you all the feels! It was full of good characters and was super light hearted. Really enjoyed this!

I’m a sucker for a English romance where the FMC inherits a countryside manor and has to deal with a local boy enemy. Throw in the classic literature/Jane Austen references and I’m done for. This book was super cute and I also loved the little mini-mystery it had as well.

This was a fun one. A bit of mystery, a bit of countryside, a Mr Darcy-like author with a slightly mysterious past, a literary festival, what's not to like. Kind of a modern day Jane Austen novel. Fun to read!

This book was funnier than I was expecting! This was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, which I greatly enjoyed. The sparks between Maddy and Cameron were perfect. And who doesn't love a book about books?

Linda Corbett's "What Would Jane Austen Do?" is a delightful romantic comedy that will capture the hearts of Jane Austen fans and romantics alike. With its charming setting, endearing characters, and witty banter, this novel is a captivating homage to the beloved author and her timeless tales of love and wit.

At the centre of the story is Maddy Shaw, a Jane Austen aficionado who finds herself thrust into a quaint English village after inheriting a country home from her long-lost cousin. Tasked with organising the annual village literary festival, Maddy must also contend with her new neighbour, bestselling crime author Cameron Massey, whose cynicism about romance puts him at odds with Maddy's romantic ideals.

What sets "What Would Jane Austen Do?" apart is its clever blend of romance, humour, and literary references. Corbett expertly weaves elements of Jane Austen's novels into the narrative, creating a charming and whimsical atmosphere that will enchant readers from the very first page. From the witty repartee between Maddy and Cameron to the quirky antics of the village residents, every scene sparkles with charm and wit.

Moreover, the romance between Maddy and Cameron is both sweet and steamy, as they navigate their differences and discover a connection that transcends their initial animosity. Corbett's writing is heartfelt and engaging, capturing the essence of Jane Austen's timeless romances while adding a modern twist.

In addition to its romance, "What Would Jane Austen Do?" also explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of literature to inspire and uplift. As Maddy immerses herself in the world of Jane Austen, she learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

As long as you go into the book without the expectation of an Austen retelling, i think readers will really enjoy it. The title is more of how the heroine is a fan of Austen and the author works quotes into the plot. The author does use some tropes like enemies to lovers and forced proximity, but they didn't feel annoying here. The romance kept me reading more than the subplots about Maddy's family. Very quick pool read for me and I enjoyed the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was a DNF for me. I didn't really like the main male character and couldn't see why the female character would fancy someone with his quirks and difficulties. And I'm a Jane Austen purist and there was no connection between this book and her.

Good book that took me a few chapters to get into. It just felt like the story was not moving at first,

What Would Jane Austen Do?
by Linda Corbett

A lovely light hearted read especially if you are fond of Jane Austen. There are quotes throughout the book. An unexpected bequest from an unknown relative when you are nearly on your upper especially when it is a large house in the country. A great lighthearted read Maddy’s only stipulation is she must live in the house for a year and she intends to sale after that but will she? Nigel keeps revealing secrets from and you are well entertained throughout the book. I really enjoyed this lighthearted witty read, and let’s not forget Luke the lodger. Great fun. 4.5/5

OK, I have to admit that it wasn't the Jane Austen aspect that made me want to read this book, but the overall sound of it, I love a enemies to lovers and this sounded right up my street and I was pleased to say that my initial thought of it was right, it doesn't disappoint.
I liked the Jane Austen quotes wich opens each chapter, and I really loved the whole clashing of the heads of the romantic reader and defender of all things happily ever after and the stoic non-romantic crime writer - huge amounts of fun there!
An cute and entertaining read, easy and non-taxing and light-hearted read, perfect for those who love enemies to lovers/grumpy sunshine and off course; Jane Austen!
Definetely recommended, perfect for those lazy days!

Mandy really loves Jane Austen, but her neighbor doesn't care about love stories or Austen's books. When Mandy loses her job and inherits a house from a relative she never met, things get interesting. Then, a famous writer of detective stories has to stay with her for a while because his house is being fixed. They don't like each other at first... but maybe that changes?

I liked how the characters talked to each other, the funny side characters, and how the romance slowly grew.

i love austen so i obviously knew i would love this book when i saw it i requested it right away
thank you netgalley for this beautiful opportunity.
me honestly if i had a chance to have a hallmark love story i would say sign me the fuck up. getting the house done and going head to head then falling in love oh my days

This was slow to get into, and took a while for the chemistry to shine, but it was well written, and had a tight plot. It uses classic romantic tropes well.

I really enjoyed What Would Jane Austen do?
Main character Maddy Shaw is reeling after losing her agony aunt column, Dear Jane, which she wrote for a national magazine seemingly out of the blue.
She attends one last interview commitment as a guest alongside an extremely moody crime writer with an extremely simple view of romance.
And just when everything feels like it’s going wrong for Maddy and she fears she will have to leave the flat share with her best friend if she can’t secure another job fast she is contacted by a solicitor.
The solicitor tells her some unexpected news that she has been left a property with some stipulations by a long-lost relative, infamous Cousin Nigel.

With one of the stipulations being that she must live in the property for 365 days to inherit it fully, she packs up some belongings and moves into Meadowhall, a large house, fully intending to sell up and leave when the year ends.
But things don’t quite turn out that way.
Meadowhall sounds like an amazing house ripe for some TLC and being brought back to life.
The library is the room I would love to lose myself in!

I loved everything about this book, from the fantastically appropriate Jane Austen quotes that started each chapter to learning more about the lodger she ends up taking in to keep herself financially afloat.
I loved peeling the layers back on Luke the lodger.
Cousin Nigel is also a dark horse, revealing secret after secret from beyond the grave.
I really enjoyed the literary festival and getting to know members of the planning committee along the way.
The ghost hunting saga was hilarious.

And of course there’s sparks flying and possibly a happy ever after.

Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Maddy and Cameron were like oil and water, and while they don't seem to mix easily, they do make a rather delightful dressing...I mean, potential couple!

I felt for Maddy's plight. Tossed to the curb by a job she loved, struggling to regain her footing to discover what might come next, seemingly being handed the answer to her prayers, yet finding strings attached, The strings would have been enough for anyone to get tangled up in, after all, there's a reason there's a tale about a country mouse and a city mouse to begin with, but add in the complications of the unexpected stipulations from the dearly departed, and the neighbor she'd never ask for, and most would eagerly be running for the hills. Well, not Maddy...or not exactly. She runs for her own hills in this new stage for the next chapter of her life, and whether temporary or not, she's going to make the most of it, give it her all, and give the naysayers what for...with a community that'll grow on her right by her side, and perhaps a little unexpected Mr. Darcy action too!

Cameron was more of an acquired taste, and while I don't regret disliking him at first, I was rather happy with the turn of events by book's end. It never hurts to have someone challenge us. It keeps us on our toes, and growing to a bigger, better version of ourselves, and that push can help us achieve things we never knew possible. In Cameron's case...perhaps the chance at a little romance, both on and off the page.

Take a chance on this work of Fiction and see just how much heart can be found in a small town with a boy, a girl, a dog, and a potential happily-ever-after neither could see coming. Come for the story, stay for the romcom fun, and help puzzle through the mystery within!