Thank you St. Martins Press for my #gifted finished copy and thank you Macmillan Audio for my #gifted listening copy and amazing PR package! #stmartinspress #macmillanaudio #MacAudio2025 #AustenAtSea #NatalieJenner #RupertGraves

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟰.𝟱★

This book was an absolute delight! Perfect for book lovers, Austen at Sea was so compelling, intriguing, and full of history. Natalie Jenner created a full-cast of bright characters with this one! While a work of fiction, two real stories inspired this book, and I think Jenner did such an amazing job crafting this one!

Set in 1865, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, have been secretly corresponding with Sir Francis Austen, the last surviving brother of Jane Austen. The two have been inspired by Jane Austen and her works, and Sir Francis Austen sends the two women an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Nicolas and Haslett Nelson, Civil War veterans and book dealers, have also been corresponding with Sir Francis Austen, who invites them to England with the promise to see a rare Austen Austen artifact. As the two pairs of siblings set off to England (the Stevenson sisters unchaperoned), they encounter many others on the ship, including Louisa May Alcott. It is quite a life changing trip for everyone involved.

✍️Inspired by two real stories
✍️Perfect for Book Lovers
✍️Women’s Rights
✍️Intriguing Characters
✍️Heartwarming

🎧I listened to the audiobook, narrated by British film and TV actor, Rupert Graves. I sure hope this is not the last time I hear Graves narrate an audiobook! Talk about the perfect pick for this audiobook! I could listen to him all day! In fact, I did not want this one to end because I loved the story AND because I loved listening to him! This one was phenomenal on audio. Do yourself a favor and grab the audio!

Posted on Goodreads on May 16, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 16, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 16, 2025
**-will post on designated date

"There was no effort to fix the world around women and its dangers particular to them—how convenient for the men who ruled and enjoyed its spoils."

“After all, isn’t the search for love at the heart of most stories?”

You don't have to be a Jane Austen fan to adore the lovely ode to her, Austen At Sea, by the meticulous researcher, and the creative force, that is historical fiction author, Natalie Jenner.

In 1865, sisters Charlotte and Henrietta discovered Jane Austen's books through their father, Supreme Court Justice Stevenson. It seems he and the other judges spend many a session deciphering Austen's work. The sisters write to Sir Francis Austen, Jane's last surviving sibling, letting him know how much his sister is admired in America.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, brothers Nicholas and Haslett Nelson, rare book dealers, are corresponding with Sir Austen regarding a rare Austen artifact.

In remembrance of his sister's love of romance, he plays matchmaker inviting both sets of siblings to set sail and visit him in England. What's a better love story than a shipboard romance? But just like her books, love isn't always what we expect it to be; just ask Mr. Darcy.

Award winning actor Rupert Graves, brings this writer's tribute to Jane Austen to life with his disarming charm.

There's an intense legal battle regarding a gift Sir Francis gives Henrietta that at its heart is about a woman's freedom.

Reading and listening to Austen At Sea, with historical cameos like Louisa May Alcott, was a delight. Though, I disagree with Henrietta's forgiveness at the end. I believe Jane Austen would've had that rogue thrown overboard. After all, she had her Pride and Prejudice when it came to the opposite sex.

I received free copies of this book/audiobook from MacMillan Audio and St. Martins Press via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

\\\\\ 3.5 \\\\\

There is no doubt that Jenner is a skilled storyteller. There was something quite heartwarming about all these characters sharing such a passion, and I loved reading about it.

This story featuring multiple characters with intertwining paths kept me intrigued and entertained from start to finish. While the pace of the story itself was on the slower side, the short chapters and the different parts in the books still made for a faster reading experience.

If you are a Jane Austen lover, there is no doubt that you will appreciate this story. The analysis of Austen’s books slipped here and there were so nice to read about. I loved seeing some of the themes replicate themselves in this story with a bit of matchmaking, misunderstandings, and lots of good social observations.

All in all, a touching story where you can feel the love for Austen’s work in such a beautiful way.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and Austenprose for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

AUSTEN AT SEA
BY: NATALIE JENNER

About 4.5 Delightful Stars!

This heartwarming quick and easy reading experience only took me a few hours to read, and it was so lighthearted, and brimming with charm. I have read, and loved two of her prior books a few years ago and love this one, also. I believe Author, Natalie Jenner's first book was called, "The Jane Austen Society," and then I rated "Bloomsbury Girls," Five Sparkling stars which was my favorite, and also an editors pick. Oh well, all three of them are favorites, and so much fun. I have a slightly different recollection of events as I remembered the sequence of events that deviated from the synopsis. I remembered this beginning with Judge William Stevenson of Massachusetts, having breakfast with his youngest daughter who he was admiring what a healthy appetite she had, and his oldest daughter Henrietta entering the room and him thinking to himself that one of his daughters took after him, and the other took after his late wife who died when the two daughters were just young girls. Henrietta and her younger sister Charlotte Stevenson are later sitting in auditing a class at Harvard. They are allowed to answer questions when called on after raising their hand and both sisters are bright and answer the questions intelligently.

The reason this light, and heartwarming novel was so much fun, is because I've been to all of the places, and landmarks thousands of times during my life in Boston. The Stevenson residence is located on Beacon Hill, I spent thousands of hours at Harvard, and I felt a warm inner glow when one of the Stevenson sister's mentioned that Margaret Fuller was the first women allowed to visit the library at Harvard, at the time only men were permitted to use the Harvard University, Library. I read a whole book that fascinated me about Margaret Fuller's life, and she was ahead of her time blazing a trail paving the way for the Women's Rights movement. Yes, Margaret Fuller was the first woman that studied among an all male library at Harvard. I can't remember who started up the correspondence between the Admiral Austen, Jane Austen's only surviving sibling who is about Ninety-one years old, but I remembered that he sent Henrietta and her younger sister Charlotte a document, or a letter that was written by his sister Jane Austen. The way I recall it is that the two Stevenson Sisters and Admiral Austen are corresponding with each other sending mail from their home on Beacon Hill, Boston across the Atlantic to Jane's brother. He mentioned in one of his letters how he hasn't been feeling well and that he is in charge of Jane Austen's belongings. I'm pretty sure that it was Henrietta Stevenson that sort of invited herself and her younger sister Charlotte to travel across to England aboard a Mail Packet Steamship called the S.S. China that was traveling in June of 1865, from the Boston Harbor to England and it would take approximately ten or eleven days to travel to help him sort through Jane Austen's things.

At the same time the Massachusetts judges are reading a novel written by Jane Austen that they gather together and have what would be something similar to today's present day a Book Club meeting to try to familiarize themselves with the Women's movement of that era who didn't like it that you had to be a certain age to travel without a husband or Chaperone. I also am familiar with the earlier mention of Bunker Hill, and ever since I was a child we took many class trips to Boston to tour the U.S.S. Constitution which was also nicknamed "Old Ironsides." I remember going with both of my sons to do that same tour of the U.S.S Constitution that even as a child I thought it was ancient then and was too small I felt like in its day during the Civil War it seemed built for four feet high Sailors. So to read about it in 1865, returning to be stationed in Boston Harbor as new struck me as funny since its always seemed ancient to me and was decommissioned while I took class field trips as a young child.

Justice William Stevenson didn't want his two daughters traveling to England on the S. S. China steamship. They sneak out of their Beacon Hill home where they live with their father in order to travel to England to see Admiral Austen. They slipped out at around 5:00 A.M in the morning while he is still sleeping even though he goes looking for them down to Boston Harbor or the Wharf when it raises its gangplank and he can't do anything to stop his daughters from making the journey. He is more worried about something happening to the ship since recently he just saw an article in the newspaper where a Steamship that was similar exploded killing between seventeen or twenty passengers. Charlotte's favorite author is Charles Dickens and her father thinks how much he enjoys reading its serialized version with her, and by the time she travels home he thinks it will have ended. Charlotte wants to be an actress and she puts on a play by Charles Dickens aboard the ship. Louisa May Alcott is one of the famous authors traveling aboard it as the same time as the Stevenson sisters.

There are two rare book sellers that are also brothers who live upstairs from their book shop who are also corresponding with Admiral Austen from Philadelphia. They mention to Admiral Austen that they have a First American Edition of one of Jane Austen's novels that is rare. Admiral Austen lures the two brothers from Philadelphia to England, as well. Not before an annoying rich young women finds out that they are traveling to England, and her name is Sara-Beth who is the daughter of a wealthy Pennsylvania, Senator, and she annoys one of the brother's for some reason whose check out counter is right in the middle of the book shop, where one of the brother's can keep an eye on the customers, and she is told by him that she has to pay for something that she climbed up their ladder to help herself to some kind of book, and she falls off the ladder, and he tells her that the fall won't be paid for by the Book shop's insurance company. It gets mentioned that Sara-Beth has been chasing both of the brothers who own the rare Book Shop. It's mentioned that she is aboard the same ship as the brothers who sell the rare books, and it appears that she is taking this trip, because she learned that the two brothers were traveling, and she followed them there.

The novel was absolutely so well written that most Women would really love this. I feel terrible that I didn't get to it before, but I ended up tripping over something that I stacked to make room for the technician to get into the room that the Modem is in from our cable not being able to resolved without a technician coming. I didn't move a stack of things out of one of our hallways the night before. I leave our light on and I was going to move everything from the stack in one of our hallways, and it was between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM and the stack got knocked over and I was half asleep and tripped and landed with me not having a chance to use my arms to break my fall. I went flying and landed my forehead making direct contact really hard on our marble floor. My head where it hit the hard marble floor started bleeding and I knew I really hurt my forehead. I knew I really hurt myself since I hit so hard on our marble floor my forehead was what made direct contact and I had to go to the hospital Emergency room. They gave me a Cat Scan, hooked me up to an IV and heart monitors. They drew blood, and I was lucky that I didn't have a brain bleed. I needed the kind of stitches that can't dissolve but have to be removed by my doctor in a week. I have a really bad concussion so I'm not supposed to be typing, but this was left typed up, but I forgot to send it for several days since I shouldn't be looking at screens or T. V. I was lucky that my Cat scan came back that I didn't need surgery. That is too much information to include, but I sent an email and saw that this never got sent, so I thought I should explain why this was already done quite awhile ago, but I must have not clicked onto the "Submit Button."

I really just want to add that Jane Austen's brother was the catalyst for inviting both Henrietta, and her younger sister Charlotte, and the two rare book dealer brothers that traveled on the S.S. China steamship where they see Charlotte, and they are attracted to her. The Stevenson sisters were concerned with disobeying their poor father who arrived at Boston Harbor, and I just wanted to not spoil this review any further except to say it's an exceptionally enjoyable story that you will have a lot to discover, and that with all of that's ahead the less I hint the better you're going to really enjoy it by reading this which I do highly, highly recommend most Women will be more inclined to learn for themselves what happens by knowing there's a lot to learn by the less I say. Personally, the books that I enjoy the most are the ones where I know very little so I'm afraid that if I say anything further it will be interfering with your reading experience. That's where I mention anything towards a hint besides just saying that you don't need to know anything about Jane Austen's novels to read this., and sometimes the synopsis says more than it should, and I find that I'm much more rewarded by skipping that, also. The other thing is that this is an excellent choice for a Book Club or a Buddy read. I can tell the Author, Natalie Jenner is very bright, and she wrote this with a lot of passion, and put her heart into writing an interesting page turner of a novel where she will entertain you, and I can speak to her ability of getting everything right when she described the city of Boston, and Harvard University's history about it being accurate since I live only forty-five minutes away by car and have spent enough of time there to know that she did an excellent job at recreating the city, and Harvard University's historical background with authenticity.

The last thing that is worth noting is that she is a very talented Author since she captures your interest from page one throughout the final paragraph. The Stevenson's are familiar with the sociology of the topic of how the two daughters, Henrietta, and Charlotte's father who is a Massachusetts Judge who along with his other peers are reading Jane Austen's novels, and discussing them like a Book Club is Brilliantly woven into the novel since the Women's movement is told without a hint of dryness or boredom. Natalie Jenner has quite a lot of topics that with lesser skill might appear to be trying too hard at what I get a kick out of how another great friend reviewer calls "the kitchen sink syndrome," What makes me laugh about what she means when she describes a novel that tries too hard at covering too many topics in one novel that it ends up detracting from it's main components. That's not the case here, although, at first I wondered if that could be a potential issue, since there's some dialogue that in the first section has the topic about how a women's issue concerning how much her inheritances, property, money etc., became owned by the men women of this era in 1865, who marry. How everything they had automatically all their assets they owned prior to marriage was transferred to their husbands as his sole property. Instead of it belonging jointly as both Husbands, and Wives equally co-ownership juxtaposed with the Civil War being the discourse with Lincoln's assassination having been brought up by Admiral Austen with condolences from him to Henrietta before the voyage to England happened. The two brothers that are the rare book dealers from Philadelphia who the details regarding them are all woven together in a narrative that in lesser hands could have been too much going on. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I wondered if this might be a novel that could be trying to do too much, but it was a thought that was quickly proven to be never the case since every theme was handled successfully. I was impressed by how intriguing this novel was with each page I read. I really should know better to have even considered it as a possibility since I had already loved two of the Author, Natalie Jenner's previous novels. I know her to be a masterfully capable storyteller which I will just say that I really loved this, and I hope that you'll read this as it will be a novel that will be perfect to be both stimulating, and a comforting reading experience that feels like a warm hug.

Publication Date: May 6, 2025! ALREADY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE! I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID, AND IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT BEACH READ!

Thank you to Net Galley, Natalie Jenner, and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with this fantastic ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#AustenatSea #NatalieJenner #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

What I loved most about this book was the nod to legal history. For someone who works within the legal community, this is a nice little tidbit that I am sure was purposefully included given that Natalie Jenner is a licensed attorney. She pairs the story nicely with a heavy dose of literary references to the Jane Austen books.

Two sisters from Boston, Henrietta and Charlotte are longing for freedom beyond the constraints of their sex. They board a transatlantic cruise ship that leads to Portsmouth and meet with Jane Austen's brother, Admiral Sir Francis Austen. When the Admiral bequeaths a legacy to Henrietta, a legal battle ensues. There are courtroom battles in this book that were very entertaining for someone who enjoys anything related to the legal community.

Two things that I also greatly enjoyed were the inclusion of Louisa May Alcott in the story and the push for women's rights and independence. I never tire of reading on this subject, but Natalie Jenner knocked it out of the park when she spun a tale so deeply rooted in law, Jane Austen history, American History, and topped it with literary giants of the time.

I have read and enjoyed most of her books, but this one was special. This one has been my favorite, by far. If you are a Jane Austen fan or love books regarding law, you will enjoy this historical fiction novel.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

This was an enjoyable read for me. I loved all the Literary references throughout the book. The relationship between the sisters was very sweet. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I enjoyed how this novel showed that Jane Austen was still an important writer in 1865 and how her writing was bringing readers and writers together. I do think that the author was trying a little to hard to name drop as many 19th Century author's as they could. But it was still a good read.

Book review: 3.25/5 ⭐️
Genre: historical fiction, romance
Themes: women’s rights, property, love stories

For all book lovers enamoured by Jane Austen, this will be a cozy balm to the soul. Here we find these advocates for her work in all manner of life. The Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices who have a summer book club, the young men and women traversing the sea and a beloved brother to the author herself. On top of this is layered the suffragette movement and legal rights within a marriage. It is certainly a love story, one towards literature as much as towards first love.

If you have read Austen’s works you will enjoy the dissection of each of her books and learning a little more of her personal life, yet reading her novels is not necessary to enjoy this book. In the essence of an Austen novel it is a love story between many characters. More than that it was a legal quagmire of judgment and women’s rights. Confined by society and the roles of women, here was a group of young ladies who went after what they wanted through different avenues.

It was a stretch for Louisa May Alcott to be on the same ship at the Stevenson sisters, or at least within the same class given her station in life, but this is fiction. So I just enjoyed her presence and her sharp insight on the world around her. Having all these characters play acting from their favourite novels was also a troupe I wish I could have been part of. Overall, it was a rather romanticized tale of the times. One where ladies were beginning to have or at least seek to have more choices and options in life.

My main problem with this story was the relationship between Denham Scott and Henrietta. Note: some spoilers follow. I couldn’t really understand Harry’s choice in marriage to a man who casually laughs at women’s right when she has been a steadfast advocate in her adult life and sees no boundary to his own will and desire. Then there was all that played out afterwards. It seems much of this could have been avoided if Henrietta sought an annulment, but her desire not to was more emotional than logical. The epilogue was not to my taste and certainly soured my feelings on this book. I think I am not unduly prejudiced in my assessment of this man after all he had done for money’s sake. This novel would have rated higher for me without this addendum. Sometimes possibility is enough and forgiveness is too often expected from women of that time, so it was contrary to the overarching themes.

I wanted it to be more revolutionary and optimistic for Henrietta who would have choices after this whole ordeal. Where was her great love story? It wasn’t the feel good ending I was after, though I think many will like it.

🎧 I did a tandem read between the audiobook and ebook thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillion Audio, and Netgalley. The narrator added a sort of elegant grace to this story and really set the scene. I don’t always like when men intone young female characters, as they often come across simpering and whiny. This is especially true with a British accent, though I found the voice generally added gravitas and congeniality where needed. Here is where I liked having the book to revert back to and the slow pace allowed me to naturally flit between the two. It was also helpful to have the reference list of characters as there certainly were many to keep track of.

Thank you Net Galley and St Martins publishing for an advanced copy to review.

Two sisters. Two brothers. And a cast of outspoken characters. With historical facts sprinkled in, indicative of the changing landscape, from the American Civil War and legalities we are brought along as these families and acquaintances meet in the Spring of 1865 with one goal in mind. Cross the Atlantic to reach the last surviving sibling of acclaimed author Jane Austen.

This book will delight Austen fans, historical romance and fiction readers. Perfectly written in celebration of her works and the impact she made beyond America and literary circles. The author took liberties to explore more of her whimsical family history through the stories of her 91 year old brother and British admiral, Sir Francis Austen.

This book is equal parts historical fiction and romance. Austen’s works challenged societies to reform and this story highlights the women who stood up for their legal rights to be free from men. At times I was confused reading the historical facts within context of the plot line. The author has broken the book into four parts as we see multiple characters come in and out of this story. In the end we find that two brothers and two sisters can form an unlikely relationship in pursuit of Austen’s beloved papers.

The premise of this book grabbed me from the start. Two American sisters connecting with an Austen sibling and traveling to England? I definitely needed to see how this one unfolded. The back and forth descriptions of the Jane Austen book discussions was entertaining. I also enjoyed Louisa May Alcott's appearance in the pages. The storyline was overall enjoyable but I admittedly grew a little tired of the constant theme of lack of women's rights. It is and was an important topic, but the reader gets the idea at the start and I felt its constant revisiting was a bit ad nauseum, in my opinion.
This is a fun read, though, and recommended for any Austen fans...and those just looking for a little something different.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

I really enjoyed Natalie Jenner's novel the Bloomsbury Girls, so I was so excited to read Austen at Sea. Unfortunately I felt completely disconnected from the story and characters during this novel.

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Natalie Jenner's other books, and this one has a different feel to it for sure given the historical setting (1865 just after the Civil War ended). The characters in this book, which weaves in actual people, were just a little less interesting to me than her other books. I think that this book would better be titled something like "A Jane Austen Pilgrimage", because it feels like you are being given a historical lesson instead of a thorough story. I am a Jane Austen fan, but it didn't hold my attention as much as I though it would from the blurb. However, given the current interest in Austen and her sister (via PBS show Miss Austen), this would be a good companion to someone really interested in that setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This is my 1st book by Natalie Jenner and I was very interested as I have enjoyed Jane Austen as an author.
The book is based in 1865, in post-Civil War Boston, and introduces Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, sisters, and avid Jane Austen fans and daughters of a Supreme Court Justice, who also brings Jane Austen books to read to the supreme court justices during their recess.
The sisters write a letter to Jane Austen’s last surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen, who then invites them to England, and unbeknownst to them, also invites brothers Nicholas and Haslett Nelson, Philadelphia rare book dealers, hoping for match.
The book displays the author's historical research with insightful perspectives, legal details and descriptions of the political landscape for women regarding their inability to vote, property rights, marital status in the context of the sisters experiences and Jane's novels in an engaging manner. I learned quite a bit and I was drawn into their character development, especially that of their father..
Less smooth were some of the subplots, such as meeting Louisa May Alcott, the Dickens play during the voyage, parts Henrietta's whirlwind relationship and the brothers involvement's. The ending was overall satisfying, with one mystery left unknown.
Overall a solid 3.5-4 stars for the this entertaining historical novel based on Jane's life, books and family and the impact it had upon the culture all the way to the Supreme Court. It is filled with historical context, romance, intrigue, family drama and wonderful moments that keep you engaged and remind you of the immense influence of well written works.
A deep appreciation to Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press for the ARC, it was a pleasure to read. All opinions expressed are mine.

I had been looking forward to Natalie Jenner’s latest book since before even her last was published. She had begun hinting at the story of Austen at Sea so long ago and I knew it would be one I’d adore. I was right. It was wonderful.

Here’s the book’s description:

In Boston, 1865, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, have accomplished as much as women are allowed in those days. Chafing against those restrictions and inspired by the works of Jane Austen, they start a secret correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother, now in his nineties. He sends them an original letter from his sister and invites them to come visit him in England.

In Philadelphia, Nicholas & Haslett Nelson—bachelor brothers, veterans of the recent Civil War, and rare book dealers—are also in correspondence with Sir Francis Austen, who lures them, too, to England, with the promise of a never-before-seen, rare Austen artifact to be evaluated.

The Stevenson sisters sneak away without a chaperone to sail to England. On their ship are the Nelson brothers, writer Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason—wealthy daughter of a Pennsylvania state senator with her eye on the Nelsons—and, a would-be last-minute chaperone to the Stevenson sisters, Justice Thomas Nash.

It's a voyage and trip that will dramatically change each of their lives in ways that are unforeseen, with the transformative spirit of the love of literature and that of Jane Austen herself.

I adore Jenner’s books but I like to warn folks that hers aren’t quite like the mega-popular historical fiction novels you may have read. Jenner does an immense amount of research and (mostly) avoids the dreaded info dump - when an author includes information they learned that really doesn’t add anything to the story. (Though there was a mention of how one character learned how to pick locks that I felt was over the top.) Her books are quieter stories and for those of us who love Jane Austen. I’m not saying you won’t like it if you don’t like Austen - you might. You just might have to consider those things that you love so you can understand why two different pairs of siblings are crossing an ocean to learn more about their favourite author.

I do wish there were fewer characters to keep track of. It was fun that the judges were reading Austen’s work together but it got repetitive and I don’t think it added much to the story. Nor do I think we really needed Judge Stevenson’s perspective. Focusing on the two sets of siblings and Nash would have been enough. Jenner was perhaps just trying to do too much with all of the great information she had been able to find. I can understand that but the story probably could have benefited from some cuts.

I love Austen and I also love Little Women. The appearance of Louisa May Alcott was an absolute delight for me. While I don’t know a ton about Alcott, I felt like Jenner stayed true to the author while exploring some of what we might assume but not know for sure. Oh, to be able to have conversations with some of these authors and know what they were really like and what they really wanted to happen to their work! This was a lovely little bonus for me that probably had me enjoying her character and part in the story more than others who aren’t Little Women fans.

Because of the time period, a particular storyline, and the profession of the sisters’ father and Nash, there was a lot of focus on women’s rights and the suffragette movement in both America and England. While that’s not going to be for everyone, it’s something I find interesting and am trying to learn more about (it helps when museums are adding more information about the women’s rights movement into their exhibits). We’ve made so many great strides since 1865, when this book was set, but it was kind of hard to read about right now when women’s rights are being threatened again. It feels like we’re sliding backwards and it is not a good feeling to have.

Austen at Sea is a book about the legacy of one of the world’s most famous authors but it’s also a story about family, love, and obligations. I very much enjoyed Natalie Jenner’s latest novel and it made me want to go back and reread her debut, The Jane Austen Society, to spend more time with other fans of Jane Austen.

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley and an ARC was provided by the publisher via Austenprose PR, both in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

When two Bostonian sisters decide to write the brother of their favorite authoress, they set in motion a path of adventure for an unlikely group of people who start out strangers and become bonded by the legacy of Jane Austen's writing. Natalie Jenner has penned some poignant and thoughtful pieces including a few with Jane Austen's life and books at the center so I was well-pleased to spot Austen at Sea based on a few real life experiences and fulminating into an engaging story.

Austen at Sea begins in 1865 when the two adult daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court judge, bored and frustrated with their confined lives as women, decide to write Admiral, Sir Francis Austen, and beg an autograph memento of their favorite authoress, Jane Austen. Frank, in his 90's now and knowing his life is drawing to a close makes a decision. He's received two letters, one from a pair of sisters and one from a pair of bookselling, war veteran brothers. He invites them all to journey across the sea and come to him so he can reveal an incredible secret find related to his sister, Jane.

Like with previous books, Jenner presents a large cast of characters and multiple story threads and narrators. The group of supreme court justices who gather for their book club reading and discussing Austen. The two sisters, Henrietta and Charlotte Stevenson from Boston, the two brothers, Nick and Haz Nelson from Philadelphia, Thomas Nash, SaraBeth Gleason, Louisa May Alcott, Constance, Justice Stevenson, and Francis Austen to name the most prominent. The early pages introduce the cast and their situations and then Sir Francis’ invitation gets them aboard the same ship for a sea voyage from Boston to England. Sea friendships and some romances, welcome or not, happen, but the focus of them all is still getting to Sir Francis to see what he has to show them.

There is a poignant bittersweet feel when they are with Sir Francis knowing his time is short and he also knows that his sister, Cassandra, left him charge of his youngest sister’s literary legacy. But, this is only one element of the story.

The large cast of characters kept things lively especially in the ship board scenes when Lu Alcott was a Cecil de Mille style play director whipping them all into shape and expecting lavish acting performances.

The relationships of the sisters and brothers were good moments, but the exciting times were when the sparks flew particularly between Charlotte and Nash and Haz and SaraBeth.

Equality, personal freedom, family ties and duty all make up the swirling mesh of the others’ stories. I enjoyed the tangling of real life figures and some real life events with the fictional and I appreciated the author’s note denoting which was which. The author’s style of leading up to something big then switching scenes past this and then coming back to it were a little convoluted for me on top of all the plot threads and narrators. I had to re-read a few spots to make sure I was getting what was happening a couple times.

Wrapping it up, I was delighted with Austen at Sea. It was strong, well-drawn in setting, character, and plot- historical fiction with romance elements. While Jane Austen was the author they were all on a quest to explore, this will appeal to book lovers who dream of exploring literary landmarks, gaining an autograph, and finding rare book gems.

For a book about Jane Austen, focusing on two sisters, for the first half of this, I assumed that many cues were going to be taken from Sense and Sensibility. I think that stands, but in the ending, I probably see more of Mansfield Park and Emma. There are parallels throughout as Easter eggs to delight any Janeites. The thrust of the story, however, is ultimately more about legacy and how we choose to handle it than about Jane or her works directly. I think the Austen at Sea is in actuality, her brother, a former naval admiral at the end of his life, who while no longer literally at sea, is definitely unsure of how to handle his sister’s legacy as the last surviving sibling. Slightly slow to start, and honestly less of a romance than I thought it would be, but a well written middle Victorian historical fiction. I almost wonder if this is the type of story Jane herself would’ve told 50 years later. This will appeal to a varied audience, literary history lovers will enjoy some cameos and references, legal history, comes into play in some interesting ways, and it almost feels like if Dickens was trying to write Austen. I can’t seem to gather my thoughts on this one, but I did enjoy it.

Henrietta and Charlotte Stevenson, daughters of Supreme Court Justice Stevenson are disheartened by the barriers women faced in 1865. Their father was a loving, progressive man, but stifling in his affections as he strived to keep them safe after losing his wife tragically.

The sisters strike up a correspondence with beloved author Jane Austen’s brother, Sir Francis Austen, who has survived her, but is very old. At ninety-one, who knows how long he has left, so when they receive an invitation to come visit, the sisters jump at the chance. They book a passage and set sail without the knowledge or consent of their father, and they embark on a trip that leaves a lasting mark on Henrietta and Charlotte’s life.

I was captivated by Henrietta and Charlotte’s journey! Both sisters had a zest for learning and life, forwarding women’s rights, but they also had matters of the heart to contend with. My emotions were all over the place with everything that went on: relationships and ambitions, and the actions of others played into the story. The visit with Sir Francis Austen was bittersweet.

There was a lot that transpired, and the ending centered on Henrietta’s choices and the repercussions with a showdown in court!

I loved both sisters and was invested in their HEAs! There were a lot of interesting characters, friends made, and side stories, as well.

I alternately read and listened to the audio of the story and can recommend either version. Rupert Graves did a fine job acting out all the characters, so each felt distinct, and their emotions came through loud and clear.

I am personally not a huge Jane Austen fan, but my best friend is one. As a result through osmosis I’ve learned a lot about her, her books, and have a real appreciation for the stories she told, her contributions to literature, and her legacy. I’ve fallen in love with @authornataliejenner books about people who love Austen and work to preserve her legacy. The latest instalment is set to come out May 6, 2025 and I was lucky enough to get to read it a little early.
Taking place before The Jane Austen Society, starting in 1865, this story lays the groundwork for what will eventually become the Jane Austen Society.
When a pair of Boston sisters, tired of the confines of their own life, decide to write to Jane Austen’s last surviving sibling they set off a chain of events that will span the ocean and change the course of history.
I never thought I would be so enamoured with a book that spends time on 1800’s property law, but that’s what happens when the author is this good.
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for letting me have a copy of #austenatsea for review.
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Set in 1865, Austen at Sea has a lot going on. The main story centers on sisters Henrietta (Harry) and Charlotte (Charlie) Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice. The sisters big Jane Austen fans, and reach out to the author's sole remaining sibling, Frank Austen, by letter and wrangle themselves an invitation to visit him in England. Coincidentally, two brothers, Nicholas and Haslett (Haz) Nelson who own a bookshop in Philadelphia also reach out to Frank Austen, who invites them to visit, imagining himself a matchmaker to the two pairs of siblings. Not expected is the woman determined to make Haz her husband who embarks on the same ship, the journalist that Harry has fallen in love with and marries during the trip across the Atlantic, or the chaperone who may have a "thing" for Charlie. Added in are subplots regarding women's rights and the women's suffrage movement, Louisa May Alcott, discussion of Jane Austen's novels by Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices, biographical information on Jane and Frank Austen, and some courtroom drama. I enjoyed the book, but with the story being told from multiple perspectives and so much going on, it took me a while to engage with the characters.

My overall opinion of this book is that it is well written and researched, but the story was lacking emotional depth for me. I was hoping more for a sisterly adventure in England discovering facts about Jane Austen. Instead it was about a group of court justices debating her books and as well as the Married Women’s Property Act. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and some weren’t very likable in my opinion. I am a fan of Natalie’s but this book was a bit of a let down for me.