Another delightful imagining of Austen’s influence on a group of readers and their adventures in helping to secure her place in the canon. Jenner’s scholarship so seamlessly inspires the narrative and creates a beautiful story of love, friendship, and fidelity that, like Austen’s works, transcends time.

There were moments when the number of characters became slightly burdensome and created some confusion, but it was a simple matter to push through and eventually understand where the plot was headed. I really enjoyed the literary allusion and the incorporation of an Austen book club for the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Austen at Sea is both a literal and figurative voyage. It’s a journey to new lands and a journey of self-discovery, set in the 1860’s and continues with the influence of Jane Austen as in the previous books by this author.

The story follows Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, two Austen fans who, on a bit of a whim, write to Jane Austen’s brother. To their surprise, they get a reply, and an invitation to England, which kicks off a chain of events that none of them could have seen coming.

There’s some intrigue and suspense that keeps things moving, but at times, the story leans into soap opera territory, especially in the middle. That part didn’t quite work for me and slowed things down quite a bit. Still, the novel has something to say. Themes like feminism, justice, and suffrage are woven through the plot in a way that gives the story some substance.

All in all, Austen at Sea has its moments. It’s thoughtful in places, a little melodramatic in others. If you like historical fiction, you may find enough to enjoy in this story, even if it doesn't completely sweep you away. 3.5 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

REVIEW by Christina Boyd

International bestselling author Natalie Jenner’s “Austen at Sea” is a captivating historical fiction that deftly intertwines rich context, Austenesque devotion, and a profound exploration of identity and women's rights. Set in 1865, the story follows two pairs of siblings, the Stevenses and the Nelsons, whose shared admiration for Jane Austen’s works propels them on a life-altering voyage to England. Their correspondence and then invitation to meet with Sir Francis Austen, Jane’s last surviving brother, uncovers both personal and literary secrets that challenge their views on women’s rights, inheritance, and ownership.

Jenner shines, constructing a vivid world where the societal struggles of the time are framed against Austen’s enduring legacy. The Stevenson sisters, Charlotte and Henrietta, are particularly compelling. Their journey is not merely across the Atlantic but a voyage of self-discovery, one that grapples with the harsh limitations imposed on women in the 19th century. The central question of the novel—whether women can truly control their property or their futures—resonates throughout, lending depth and nuance to the characters.

Jenner seamlessly integrates Austen’s novels into the narrative, too. The Massachusetts State Supreme Court judges who discuss Austen’s works provide both intellectual stimulation and entertainment. These discussions cleverly echo the central themes of Austen’s novels—ownership, marriage, and the restrictive roles assigned to women.

"Perhaps we are to regard Fanny Price as more moral construct than character," the chief justice suggested, revealing his hand upfront as he always did. "After all, who in the book has less freedom than Fanny?" —Chapter 11: Mansfield Park

The inclusion of Louisa May Alcott aboard the ship is inspired. Her presence and her vibrant portrayal add both whimsy and wit.

Louisa Alcott, however, remained surprisingly difficult to read, for all her cheerfulness and open manners. Hardest to decipher was the pain behind her eyes—dark, impenetrable eyes which dropped sadly at the corners, no matter the width of her smile. —Chapter 10: The Audition

Another standout is Sir Francis Austen, depicted as a man in the twilight of his life. His inner conflict regarding Jane’s legacy is both poignant and thought-provoking.

"I have come to accept, after so much loss, how only the things we make will last. A topaz cross on a necklace—a family recipe written down—my sister's book. She didn't write those letters to last, but they do, and that's the dilemma." Sir Francis sighed. "If only Jane herself had destroyed it all." —Chapter 8: The Walled Garden

A surprising twist ultimately adds a layer of complexity, making the story’s resolution all the more satisfying. “Austen at Sea” will captivate fans of both Jane Austen and historical fiction. With colorful characters, an engaging plot, and a thoughtful exploration of women’s rights and literary legacy, this memorable read is a must for anyone who savors a literary journey.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you St. Martins Press, NetGalley and the author for this ARC! This was a good historical novel surrounding the surviving brother of Jane Austen. I really enjoyed the story line, characters and plot. This would be a great read for those who love Jane Austen and historical fiction.

This was an interesting book for me. It started out slowly but gained speed towards the middle. I like all the discussions of Austen's works between the characters. I liked the characters and some of the similarities they shared with the different books.

A voyage on a ship sailing for England in 1865 will change lives.

In 1865, two sets of siblings are corresponding with Sir Francis Austen, the last living sibling of famed author Jane. Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court judge, are intelligent and well read...and are among the many "angry women of New England", frustrated by the lack of opportunities to continue their education or pursue a career other than teacher or nurse. Both ardent fans of Jane Austen, they invite themselves to visit with Sir Francis and help him with his sister's remaining papers and effects. Unbeknownst to the two young ladies of Boston, a pair of brothers in Philadelphia who are recently returned from fighting in the nation's Civil War and have a rare book business which has on its shelves a rare first American edition of Miss Austen's book Emma have also written to the British admiral. Sir Francis has a romantic streak in him, and he decides to do a bit of matchmaking, arranging for both pairs of siblings to be aboard the same ship heading to England. Also aboard are two gentlemen acquaintances of the Stevenson women, one a judge who serves with their father and the other a journalist who has grated upon at least one of the sisters as he pursues his mission. Toss in an as-yet unknown Louisa May Alcott as well as the daughter of a wealthy Pennsylvanian politician, and the stage is set for a very Austen-like situation of friendships and romances that don't necessarily end up as those pulling the strings might expect.
Fans of Jane Austen in particular and historical fiction in general, especially those who enjoy seeing fictionalized interpretations of real historical figures, will likely find Austen at Sea a novel to savor. Fair warning...there are a lot of characters of whom to keep track, and multiple storylines and themes woven together. Charlotte and Henrietta are vibrant characters, strong women with minds of their own who want to have a role in effecting changes to the status quo. They had involved themselves in the crusade for abolition of slavery, and to their mind it is only right and proper that women be the next group to achieve equal legal status. The reader also is treated to their father and his fellow state Supreme Court justices engaging in an Auster-focused book reading group, amateur theatricals on board the ship, and the differences between the US and Britain when it comes both to women's rights and legal situations. The story has a great deal of charm, although I felt at times that there was too much going on (and likely too many characters to wrangle) to fully develop each theme. Will ardent fans of Austen be likely to enjoy it more than those who are less familiar with (or enamored of) the writer? Perhaps, but one doesn't really need an encyclopedic knowledge of Austen's oeuvre to appreciate a tale of misunderstandings, unusual bequests, and the ups and downs of love. Readers of Allison Pataki, Kate Quinn and Paula McLain should definitely give this book a try as well. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me access to Austen at Sea in exchange for my honest review.

I must reluctantly admit this was my least favorite of Jenner's Austen trilogy. While I did like all the Jane Austen book nods and the fact that there was a group of old white American Supreme Court Judges determined to read all of her books in this historical fiction novel, the overall plot felt less cohesive than I would have wished. There was some romance, lots of feminist activism (fighting for women's right to vote, etc) but overall it was just an okay read for me and likely won't be a very memorable one that stands the test of time. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What a beauty of book! Reading it and listening to the audiobook was such a treat.

Set in 1865, the novel follows The Stevenson sisters, two young Bostonian girls fans of Jane Austen. They write to admiral Austen in order to learn more about Jane, and soon they are invited to England. They can't miss this opportunity to they decide to take the ship and travel without their father, a judge from the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
In this ship, the Stevenson sisters will meet Louisa May Alcott before becoming a famous author, and the whole trip will have a strong impact on their lives.

On the other hand, the gentleman at the Massachusets Court are reading Jane Austen's works as an object of study in order to examine the impact that could have in women in those times of changes when women's rights movement is getting stronger.

Austen at Sea highlights the legacy of our beloved writer Jane.
There is a feast of literary references that I found lovely. One of my favorite parts was that on board, passengers discussed A Tale of Two Cities, one of my favorite novels by Charles Dickens.

While the court examines Austen's novels, it turns very likely to what we do in a book club discussion, so it was hilarious to imagine these judicious gentlemen gathering in that matter.

The novel made me want to reread Jane Austen novels and visit Chawton someday.

Jeannette, Austenitas, and all Jane Austen fans around the world, I hope you enjoy this book. I can see the author put all her love, gratitude, and admiration to Jane Austen. This could be a great book pick for discussing it among friends. Happy reading!

The audiobook is narrated by the British actor Rupert Graves, and his voice was perfect for the novel. It made my reading experience even more exquisite.

Thank you St. Martin Press and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced book and audiobook via Netgalley.

I thought the premise of this book sounded really interesting. However for me it just felt a little flat . I had the hardest time getting into the book and really struggled to finish it. I did like that the main female characters did pretty much what they wanted. I’m sure there’s an audience for this book it just wasn’t me

I enjoyed this book, but to be honest, I feel like the author’s previous novel, The Jane Austen Society, was superior. I also learned as a reader that my tolerance for this trope did not exceed that one book. If you did enjoy the earlier novel, you may well like this one too. What did not work for me was the romantic angle and the cozy feel. It is well written, and very very similar in all ways and I guess one was enough for me. Maybe I’m not as big an Austen fan as I had presumed. Definitely give this one a read if you are are! It’s very fun

Austen at Sea is a must read for any fans of historical fiction, especially if you are interested in the writings of Jane Austin. Two sisters from Boston, Charlotte (Charlie) and Henrietta (Henry) Stevenson, are fascinated by Austin and have had correspondence with her brother, Admiral Francis Austen . They ignore their father, a Massachusetts Supreme Court judge, and board the SS China to England to meet him. Unbeknownst to them, two brothers from Philadelphia have also corresponded with Admiral Austen and have been invited to travel to England on the same ship. Once onboard, the sisters meet Louisa (Lu) Alcott, who has not yet become famous, and the eccentric and wealthy Sara Beth of Philadelphia, who is also known by the brothers. They also find out that their father convinced Justice Thomas Nash to board at the last minute to act as chaperone, and a bothersome British reporter whom they have previ0usly encountered have also joined the passengers on their way to England.

The sisters journey and experiences are right out of an Austin novel, with competitive affections of the heart, secret loves and a bunch of feminism thrown in for good measure. The author did a good job moving the story along and providing sufficient information about the late 1800s and the life of Austen to keep me happy with the topic.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book to review.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Austenite Fiction, Books About Books
Spice Level: Nothing overly descriptive (as I recall) but there is closed-door/fade to black sex

AUSTEN AT SEA is a breath of fresh air with a new lens for fans of Jane Austen. I enjoyed this book immensely.

The dynamic and shift in power between parent and child is evident in several relationships. The love between sisters is another major theme that I enjoyed.

I will be so interested to see how people end up feeling about one of the romantic relationships. I'm slightly discombobulated—things did NOT go as I anticipated. But people are so complex, I'm also okay with that.

I loved seeing Jane Austen (still fictionally, of course) through her brother's eyes.

This time period where history was changing on how women interacted in society is very interesting to me. That's another reason to pick up this book. The fight for women's rights has gone on for a looong time.

I would definitely read another book by this author. That's a vote for "swim" from me.

Happy reading!

PS: If you haven't read her book, The Jane Austen Society, pick it up.

Natalie Jenner is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all her books and I’ve loved each and every one of them. Austen at Sea is the story of two unmarried sisters from Boston who begin exchanging letters with Sir Admiral Francis Austen. He’s the brother of one of their very favorite authors, Jane Austen. At the invitation of the Admiral and against their father’s wishes they sneak out of the house in the early hours of the morning and board a mail steamer to England. What could possibly go wrong? The story has a great cast of characters and even features a few straight out of history like Louisa May Alcott and Dr. Richard Pankhurst. There is an epistolary element too with newspaper articles and letters. Austen devotees will appreciate the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s summer reading group and their discussion of Austen’s works. This novel has so much going for it. It is a wonderful and timely story centered around the works of Jane Austen and the ongoing battle for women’s rights. 4.5 stars

Liked the Austen reference; a big cast of characters so can get confusing. Enjoyed learning more about the time period, great details.

Very much for Jane Austen fans. Jenner packs a lot into this tale of the Stevenson sisters and the Nelson brothers, all of whom have been invited to visit Jane's brother in the UK and so take a ship which also sees Louisa May Alcott as a passenger. Oh, and members of the Massachussetts Supreme Court, of which the Stevenson's father is a member, regularly discuss Austen's work. Their father, btw, is not happy about Charlie and Henry traveling to the UK and so races with his colleague Nash to the dock-and Nash hops on board the steam boat. Turns out, you will discover, that Henry's father was correct to be concerned but the trip over involves the women staging a play among other things. This morphs into an intriguing look at the rights of women in this period, especially the differences between women in the US and the UK. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While I think there might be one too many plot lines or elements, it's still a good read.

Austen at Sea is quite literally a literary delight. Natalie Jenner has such a meticulous way of incorporating all the classics and their distinctive characters and scenes. I love the way so many different personalities and interests are blended in this story. In one sense, it feels like modern meets old, even though the modern presented here is the mid 1800s. Jane Austen’s remaining brother is in his 90s and wants to see her beloved legacy not just preserved, but cherished. He orchestrates the gathering of an eclectic group who have a love of all things literary in common. The story takes places in multiple parts and with many characters. Please know, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and while this is truly a pleasure, it is important that you pay attention. If you have the written version, the list of characters in the beginning may end up very helpful as you try to keep everyone straight. While this is not a fast-paced story, it is engaging and keeps moving forward leaving the reader wanting to know the next steps. It is a celebration of Austen and other great classic authors while you get to fully immerse yourself in a literary adventure.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Continuing with her love of Austen, Natalie Jenner turns her pen to America and the tale of two sets of siblings: Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson and Nicholas and Haslett Nelson. All four are much enamored of Jane Austen and correspond with Jane Austen's surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen. They journey to England to meet him and come into contact with other literary greats and, in a feat worthy of Austen, love is found.

I really enjoyed this novel and the spirit in which it was written. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed the thought of Francis Austen holding the few remaining secrets of his sister. A really lovely read.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of the book.
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Read if you like: Jane Austen, character driven stories, themes around feminism
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The book follows two Austen loving sisters, Henrietta and Charlotte, as they travel to England to meet with Jane Austen's 91 year old brother, Sir Francis, and they get to travel around and see some important sites where Jane lived and wrote. I loved how the book centered around Jane Austen's novels and the themes found in her books.
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The book focuses on the themes of family and gender, but we also get some romance built into the story as well. There are discussions of marriage during the late 19th century and how women did not have rights when they married. The beginning felt a little slow but overall I loved the book!

Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson have accomplished as much as they can as women in 1865. They have been corresponding with Sir Frances Austen, Jane Austen's brother, who is in his 90s, and he has invited them to England. Nicholas and Haslett Nelson are brothers who are rare book dealers and have also been invited to England by Sir Francis Austen.

The sisters sneak away to sail to England without a chaperone. The Nelson brothers, Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason, and Justice Thomas Nash are all on the ship with the sisters. This is just the beginning of the story.

We follow the characters at sea and in England, where the sisters find themselves navigating more than just Jane Austen. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at a group of justices who have weekly meetings to discuss Austen's works.

Why Jackie loves it

I love the fact that the book was inspired by actual correspondence between Admiral Sir Frances Austen and two Boston sisters, as well as two Philadelphia book dealers. The book is a wonderful tribute to Jane Austen. I also loved "meeting" Louisa May Alcott before she became a famous writer. I loved the Audio version of this book as well. #gifted

Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025