Unchaperoned and unstoppable, sisters Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson set sail to cross the ocean. They are intrigued by a letter received from Jane Austen’s brother. They won’t be alone on their journey. On the voyage are Louisa May Alcott, brothers Nicholas and Haslett Nelson, and others. A letter said to be penned by Jane Austen has intrigued all of them, and thus their journey begins.

Austenesque stories are becoming one of my favorite types of reads, and Natalie Jenner does lovers of Austen justice in this book. With Louisa May Alcott being one of the travelers, I was overjoyed. As she is one of my favorite authors, anytime she is mentioned in a book, count me in.

With the setting being in 1865 and mystery as well as convention bring this story to life. With the brother of Jane Austen, Sir Frances Austen, capturing the attention of our protagonists, the story is an addictive delight. There might be more than a bit of romance in this wonderful story, making it an easy one-sitting read.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The subject matter is catnip -- Austen! Dickens! -- but unfortunately, the book is so didactic that it reads more like a textbook than a novel.

This historical fiction was a bit slow at times, but still enjoyable. This was not a book about Jane Austen so much as it’s about her legacy. I did not love the political, societal and socioeconomic issues women faced in both England and America that were woven throughout the book, however, it did also help set the scene of the book and the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

I enjoyed this novel with the references to one of my favourite classic authors - Jane Austen. The story references the struggles that women had trying to decide on their future during a time when they had no control over their finances and belongings after marriage. An historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and will recommend.

Two sisters begin a correspondence with Jane Austen's brother Francis and they make plans to sail to England and meet him and her more about their author idol. This book also deals a lot with the lack of power and rights that women--both in England and America, dealt with. Louisa May Alcott is a character as well. I enjoyed it.

Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, two sisters from Boston and daughters of a Supreme Court Justice, are eager to explore the world and chase their dreams. Inspired by Jane Austen, they secretly connect with her brother, Sir Francis, and set off for England on the S. S. China, on a transatlantic steamship —excited for the adventure ahead. Joining them aboard the ship are the Nelson brothers, Civil War veterans and book lovers, as well as lively new friends like Louisa May Alcott and Sara-Beth Gleason. Their father’s colleague, Justice Nash, jumps on board to keep an eye on them.

I truly loved this novel, it’s beautifully written and easy to get lost in. The journey the characters take kept me hooked from start to finish, with no dull moments in sight. Every character feels real and brings something special to the story. I especially loved the chapters about the Supreme Court Justices' book club; their lively chats about Austen's novels added an extra layer of warmth and fun. Perfect blend of history, literature, and memorable personalities.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I love Jane Austen's works, so it was an obvious decision for me to check out Natalie Jenner's Austen-inspired stories. In this case, both read and listened to Jenner's latest, which is set in 1865, and brings two sets of siblings together:

-The first, a pair of sisters, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, who live in Massachusetts and who have fallen in love with Jane's work. They, in defiance of their Supreme Court Justice father, sneak away to England to meet with Jane's last living relative, the very frail Sir Francis Austen, with whom they have corresponded in secret.

-The second, a pair of brothers and rare book dealers, Nicholas and Haslett Nelson living in Philadelphia, are also enticed to travel to England to meet with Sir Francis Austen, who promises access to a rare Austen item so it can be evaluated.

On the ship voyage, the sisters meet the Nelsons, Sara-Beth Gleason (who has her eye on one of the Nelsons as a marriage prospect), Louisa May Alcott, and a last-minute addition to the party, Justice Thomas Nash, a friend and colleague to the Judge Stevenson, who has rushed on board to be the sisters' chaperone.

Sir Francis sees the arrival of the two sets of siblings as an opportunity to do a little matchmaking, even while the artifact the brothers have come to England to view causes quite the legal stir once it's no longer in Sir Francis' hands.

The story is full of conversation, stories, grief, matchmaking, romance, and an international incident. There's humour, sadness, greed, manipulation, lots of love for Jane's works, and a bit of feminism. I enjoyed this, and the audiobook, narrated by Rupert Graves, who inhabits the many characters well.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

Austen at Sea is the first book by Natalie Jenner that I've read. I wasn't aware that it was written as a prequel to her popular novel The Jane Austen Society, but my lack of knowledge about the first book didn't dampen my enjoyment of Austen at Sea. There has been much attention to Austen on the 250th anniversary of her birth and I was worried that Jenner was only capitalizing on that interest, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much she knew about Austen, her family, and the Boston and Philadelphia literary circles. The book was a great read and I look forward to reading other works by Jenner!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Another great book by Natalie Jenner!
My favourite will always be The Jane Austen Society but Austen at Sea is a close second for those who love historical fiction and are Austen fans.

Two sisters, fans of Jane Austen living in Massachusetts, decide to take a ship to England to visit the last sibling of Jane Austen. Unbeknownst to them, Sir Frances Austen has a secret plan to introduce them to two sibling brothers from Philadelphia who are making the trip to see him. Hijinks ensue. Just kidding, The sisters make the trip at a time when women of means were not allowed to travel alone. Not only do they make the trip, but things happen that change their lives forever.
I did enjoy the story, and the intrigue to follow when Sir Frances Austen gives Henrietta, one of the sisters, a letter supposedly written by Jane Austen. I recommend this story to fans of historical fiction, especially those who like reading romance.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I do love historical fiction and especially ones that reference Jane Austen. I was happy to have an opportunity to read this novel early. I enjoyed the themes Jenner includes in this book including family, women's rights, suffrage. I was hoping to be emotionally connected to the characters and novel since I loved the premise. I found the reading to be slower than I prefer and maybe that was the issue for me. I have many friends who also really love all things Austen and I believe they will definitely enjoy this one. I also believe that most people looking for historical fiction would also enjoy it.

Special thanks to Macmillan and Netgalley for my advanced copy; all opinions are my own.

*** I received the audiobook as well from NetGalley and did my review on that version. In short, I wasn't thrilled with this story. I thought there were too many characters, who never really developed.

Thank you for the ARC.

I will say the cover is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately this book was like a chore to get through. I have enjoyed the author’s past books, and am a huge Austen lover, so was disappointed I didn’t enjoy it. It just felt like the author was trying too hard to write it like an Austen novel and be witty.. There was so much detail and description it just didn’t flow naturally, and I ended up not caring at all about the main characters and their story.

As soon as I saw that Natalie Jenner had a new book out this year and it is a sort of prequel to The Jane Austen Society, I knew that I needed to read this book. I love that Jenner’s stories beautifully illustrate how meaningful Austen’s work can be for many of us and that people can build relationships and community around them.

This book was a slow start for me, I will admit. It took me a little bit longer to hook into the story than usual but once I did, I was fixated. Jenner’s ability to weave major themes into her books is one of her major strengths, and in this book, we explored the themes of suffrage and women’s rights- something that is more important than ever. Without her intending to, I think that Austen’s books explore these themes and it worked so well as the basis for the story.

Without spoiling anything, we also get a somewhat unexpected group discussing Austen and it was quite funny for me, a lighter moment that truly shone through for me.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this book, even though I tried a few times! Great for Austen fans, but I need my Austen a bit more contemporary

Austen at Sea is a lovely tale of sibling love and support wrapped up in the world of Jane Austen. Austen is seen everywhere from the Massachusetts judges book discussions & the Stevenson sisters to the Nelson brothers who are book collectors to Austen's surviving brother.

Sir Francis Austen is the surviving brother of Jane Austen. Because of this status, a written communication begins with the Stevenson sisters of Boston, who love all things Austen. The Nelson brothers are book collectors and begin communication about Austen's book being published in the US. Sir Austin invites both pairs to visit him in England and they set sail on the SS China. Much happens aboard the SS China, including a newspaper man from England returning home, a last-minute chaperone for the Stevenson sisters, a young woman infatuated with a Nelson brother, and Louisa May Alcott. The women on the ship quickly form a bond and decide to perform a play with an all-woman cast.

Much happens during and after the pairs meet with Sir Austen in England, but I'll leave that for the reader to enjoy! If you love Jane Austen or not, you will enjoy this book set in 1865, in the waning days of the Civil War.

In this fun and entertaining new historical fiction novel, readers meet sisters Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, the daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice who do as much as the restrictions of society will allow them to. Inspired by the heroines of Jane Austen, the girls start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, their idol’s only surviving brother, who invites them to visit him in England. Rare book dealers Nicholas and Haslett Nelson are also in correspondence with Sir Francis, who also invites them to England to evaluate a rare artifact from his sister. When the Stevenson sisters sneak away to England, their ship is also carrying the Nelson brothers, Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason (the daughter of a Pennsylvania state senator), and Justice Thomas Nash, all of whom will never forget this particular trip to England or its consequences. With a host of fantastic characters, the perspective shifts in this novel show how pervasive and profound Austen’s works are and brings the many characters to life in incredible detail. The historical details and exciting premise really flesh out this fascinating novel, and Austen fans and historical fiction readers will absolutely love this brilliant new novel and its entertaining and complex characters.

I’m a fan of this authors previous books so I was looking forward to this. However I had a hard time even getting started and keeping things straight. It was a little more jumbled and a little less captivating than the last books.

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner (audiobook narrated by Rupert Graves) swept me away—literally and emotionally—on a transatlantic voyage to 1885!

Two pairs of siblings—devoted Jane Austen admirers—set sail for England, invited by none other than Sir Francis Austen, Jane’s last surviving brother. The Stevenson sisters from Boston, chafing against societal restrictions, and the Nelson brothers from Philadelphia, book dealers and Civil War vets, are drawn into a literary mystery involving long-lost Austen letters and a secret legacy.

Also aboard? Louisa May Alcott (!), a sharp-witted heiress, and a reluctant judge-chaperone. What follows is a beautifully written, character-rich story filled with romance, legal drama, and reflections on women’s rights, literature, and the post–Civil War world.

I especially loved the courtroom scenes in both England and Massachusetts, and the way Jenner ties themes of inheritance and justice to Austen’s own work. There are so many nods to Austen and Dickens—fans will swoon over the literary references and debates woven throughout.

🎧 Rupert Graves’ narration brings each character vividly to life—witty, warm, and pitch-perfect. I felt like I was right there with them, crossing the Atlantic in search of adventure and answers.

A gorgeous tribute to classic literature, social change, and the enduring impact of great writing.

The premise of the book with all its literary references and appreciation for the historical period really drew me to the book. Unfortunately for me it fell short. I found the story cumbersome to follow and the characters were all so flat.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.