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.

TY to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC/ALC. I am drawn in automatically to a title Jane Austen adjacent and I've loved this author's previous titles, so I was very excited about this one. I found the story weighed down by too many characters and too many plot lines. I liked but really didn't love this one.

I gave this one a shot but it fell short for me.
I liked the time frame and what really attracted me to the story was Louisa May Alcott.
I found the dips into letters, newspapers, and the court drama to be distracting and it interrupted the flow of the narrative.
My interest waned about halfway through.
I think some of story went on too long.

This book started slow, pickup the pace in the middle, but then lost me in the end. I liked the relationships between the two sets of siblings and trying to figure out which romantic relationships would occur on board the ship. As a Jane Austen fan, I loved the correspondence with her brother and when the siblings got to visit her home. But the court case felt irrelevant to the rest of the story and took way too long to resolve. I did appreciate the discussion of the women's suffrage movement and how the women felt trapped by the circumstances they were born into. But overall, I felt like the story dragged too much and I lost interest.

I thought this book was a bit slow in some parts, but it fit the writing of the period quite well. The plot defintely held my attention and I found myself reading more than planned at every reading "session". Definitely great for Austen fans, but even those who aren't but like the period might enjoy. Interesting women's rights issues discussion!

I so desperately wanted to love this book! I longed for more Austen! Don't we all? I'm currently rereading Emma, and often rereading Austens.

The story started nicely, with the daughters joking with their father about their favorite Austens. "Well, father, which won the majority? Emma or Mansfield Park?" "Emma, of course."

And then the whole story devolved.

I think it's just 3 stars, due to my fondness for Jane Austen.

Austen at Sea is certainly the right book for the celebration of the Austen 250th. There is no one better than Natalie Jenner at researching and presenting the societal issues of the time. She has established herself as an outstanding Jane Austen scholar. The legal details surrounding the trial endured by Henrietta were extensive. Almost too much so.
That, perhaps, would be the thing I struggled with the most. The details and legalese were slow going for this common reader. Too much information !
I found myself reading and re- reading parts, as if for a college class. It just did not flow for me.
I liked the characters and was happy to see how things played out for them. One suggestion to an author who is writing many characters - perhaps don't give each of them a name and a nickname.
As much as I wanted to love this book, I just did not find it as enjoyable as Jenners previous books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC of Austen at Sea.

This is a beautiful story set during the mid 1860s, post-Civil War America, and England, with a focus on literary figures such as Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, and most significantly Jane Austen, as indicated by the book’s title. The story revolves around Austen’s brother, Sir Francis, and his desire to safeguard a secret Austen legacy, and the larger question of what makes a literary heroine. I love how the author painted the predicaments of women of this time, attempting to make their own way in the world apart from the men in their lives, whether a father, a father figure, or a potential suitor. While I found 'Austen at Sea' a bit slower than ‘The Jane Austen Society,’ I fell in love with the characters just as I do in any book written by Natalie Jenner. This is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction or those with a passion for Jane Austen. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me longer to pick this one up than I planned, but I think it hit at just the right time. This story of two sisters - and two brothers - who are such ardent fans of Jane Austen that they write to her brother, and all the resulting revelations and drama ... it's a literature lover's dream. Especially since Louisa May Alcott also makes an appearance. I'll confess it took a minute for me to get into the swing of the story, but once everyone is on the boat heading to England? Yes please! This is an ode to literature, a love letter to Austen (and Janeites!), and a cleverly presented examination of the rights of man/woman. Very enjoyable read.

Even if you have never read any of Jane Austen's novels, this story will delight and entertain you. It takes place in the mid 1800s when the author had cemented her popularity and concerns a Boston family with two very well read daughters chase romance in the UK and track down Austen's elderly brother. The Boston family's patriarch is a lawyer on the state Supreme Court who has as colleagues other Austen book lovers in perhaps the first known reference to a fictional book club of that era. In any event, the ladies get involved in some legal trouble thanks to some Austen manuscripts. The transatlantic troubles continue to multiply, impeded by a series of 10-day ocean crossings that doesn't slow down the plot. Highly recommended.