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.
#bookstagram #bookreviewer #bookreccomendation #booklover #bookworm

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.

This book is such a fascinating premise - what Jane Austen fans wouldn't love the opportunity to meet with her brother and hear about her life? I enjoyed the characters, although sometimes the story felt a bit too divided between all the different perspectives. I really became invested in the story once the characters all met up with Austen's brother in England.

I also loved the historical context of the time - post Civil War turmoil, women's rights movement, Supreme Court decisions... there was a lot going on during this time period!

My favorite part of all is the Supreme Court Justices' Jane Austen book club. Their discussions were so fun to read, and I love that they were arguing to rank her books. It was a delight to read!

I think most Janeites will enjoy this story, especially the descriptions of her family and home.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Natalie Jenner for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Austen fans will love this tale of Austen’s posthumous influence—one which lingers today. The Stevenson sisters—very intelligent daughters of a widowed Massachusetts supreme court justice—want more from life than society will allow them to have. Their father, still mourning their mother’s death several years later, is very cautious about allowing them freedom.

As with The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls (reviewed here: Bloomsbury Girls Review), Jenner has done meticulous research. She also revisits themes of feminism and misogyny that she has touched on in her previous books.

The main plot here touches on the Austen family’s posthumous destruction of Jane’s letters, in order to preserve her reputation, and her uncle’s disposition of one last—not terribly flattering—letter. The fictional characters of the Stevensons and the Nelsons and Sir Francis’ attempt at matchmaking gives Jenner the scope to create a novel about much more than what happened after Jane died.

Bringing in the awkward and delightful Louisa May Alcott further added depth to the story. There’s even a romantic subplot for Justice Stevenson that will put a smile on your face.

An even more important subplot is the legal battle that takes place after Henrietta’s hasty marriage. With a priceless letter bequeathed to her and no legal standing to prevent her husband from selling the letter for personal gain. Henrietta fights for women’s right to their own property. This look into the history of women’s legal standing is fascinating, and is echoed in the lives and conversations of other characters as well.

As a whole, this book is another satisfying look at literature and women.

I do have one small quibble—a scene that takes place in 1880 mentions “thermoses of milky tea.” The vacuum flask trademarked as Thermos was not invented until 1892. Yes, they call me “Picky Vicky” for a reason. Hire me for all your fact-checking and continuity-checking needs!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Parental death. Marital strife. Indirect mention of sex between married people. Mention of feminist ideas.

Who Might Like This Book:
Jane Austen fans, naturally, but also those who enjoy well-researched historical accounts and reading about the journey toward women’s rights.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-good-week-for-readers.html

Although at times it felt a little slow, I really enjoyed this story ! There were some lovely characters, romance , a little intrigue , a lot about Jane Austen’s book and a little about her family

I liked this book enough to want to finish it. I felt like it dragged and was slow for the most part. I feel like there were too many story lines trying to be followed. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it focused on more on the lives of siblings. I feel like the feelings and story were surface level. But I did want to know how the story ended.

I have enjoyed Natalie Jenner's previous books The Jane Austen Society and especially Bloomsbury Girls, so I was expected a well-researched historical novel with a tangle of lovable characters and a deep grounding in books (especially Jane Austen's). That is indeed true with Austen at Sea as well, though I sometimes got distracted by the sheer number of participants in this novel (there's a lot going on: two sisters, their state supreme court justice father, his colleagues, two Civil War veteran brothers who are now running a bookshop, a British journalist, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen's elderly surviving brother Admiral Frank Austen, and quite a few other people. Everyone is reading Jane Austen and debating her legacy, so throw in all of Austen's characters as well. And quite few of Charles Dickens'.). The novel is leisurely paced, and concerned with resolving all sorts of matches (between people but also between people and the remaining pieces of Jane Austen's legacy), and readers who know Austen well will note echoes of many of her stories in both scenes and characters. It's an enjoyable read--just remember to bring your traveling patience and let the novel take you where it (eventually) wants to go.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 1865, two progressive sisters abscond to England to meet with the last remaining sibling of Jane Austen.Leaving Massachusetts on board the SS China unbeknownst to them there are others on the same mission. Shipboard friendships are made with a delightful cast of characters, including the author Louisa May Alcott. At sea and in England there is romance, drama and scandal all very true to this era.
This is what I really loved about this book. The fictional account of actual history- America in 1865 was recovering from Civil War and Lincoln's assassination. This Reconstruction era had turned many women abolitionists into feminists looking for freedom and suffrage. Often they saw Jane Austens writings as an embodiment of their passions. Although while in England it clearly shows the difference between the two countries as England is still quite Victorian. These differences figure heavily in this story although the ending is very satisfying. Happy that Natalie Jenner continues her Austen stories.
Thankful to netgalley and St Martins press for this ARC

I didn't love this book as much as I've loved Jenner's first two books. I love any tale that expounds on the wondrous, unifying power that a love of literature (and Austen in particular) can have. Those were my favorite elements of the books, especially the judges' book club discussions of Austen's novels. The other theme of women's suffrage/feminist law was also inspiring at times, especially these days, but at times both of these elements got lost in the sauce. There was a large cast of characters that were constantly on the move, so I found it more difficult to connect with them than usual.
Overall, a good read, but not my favorite of the three novels so far.

4.25/5 stars

I have read each of Jenner's "Austen" books and have enjoyed each one. This one can be added to that list.

What I enjoyed most about the book? Probably first and foremost, the sisterly bond between Henrietta (Harry) and Charlotte (Charlie) was my favorite takeaway and what will stick out most when I recall the story. While throughout the book we see them in other relationships (with their father, romantic interests, female friends), it was in the love and support for each other that they really shone and became more fully developed characters through this bond.

While there were some moments of disbelief (convenient meetings, characters acting out of their "norm", etc.) and frustration (slow pacing at times), overall, this was a well-written, entertaining story. Jenner does setting/period descriptions especially well, and here she especially captured the need and push toward women's rights, both within the Stevenson's household and the greater world outside. Their father, a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, was enlightened to a point (and we see that grow during the story) and encouraged his daughters' scholarship and open-mindedness. And speaking of their father, another favorite part of the story for me was the "Justices' Book Club" where the entire Jane Austen anthology was read and discussed...some very interesting and lively repartee.

Following the sisters from their fairly insulated home in Boston (1865) to England where they meet Austen's brother (Admiral Francis Austen) and visit Austen's childhood home in Chawton, we watch as the sisters evolve and grow both as a team and individually. They make mistakes, make new friends and ultimately make their own way forward.

I did like that Jenner included an epilogue which gave some insights into how their futures progressed (both hopeful and heartbreaking). We don't often get that, and it is always a fun bonus for me.

Overall, I found this a welcome and well-done addition to Jenner's Austen series and look forward to her next effort.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the free early arc of Austen at Sea for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Two Jane Austen-loving daughters of the Harvard University president have been exchanging letters with the deceased author’s sole surviving sibling, Admiral Francis Austen. Two brothers who have returned to Philadelphia from the Civil War to run their family’s rare bookstore have also written to Admiral Austen to let him know they have an Austen first edition. With an invitation to visit England someday, the two fangirls, Henrietta and Charlotte Stevenson, and the two scholarly brothers, Haslett and Nicholas Nelson, coincidentally meet on a transatlantic voyage. Among their fellow passengers are a British journalist, a Massachusetts Supreme Court justice, and author Louisa May Alcott. Much to the sisters’ dismay, their protective father has sent along a chaperon. Together these characters and their developing relationships form the core of Natalie Jenner’s latest novel, Austen at Sea.

Jenner divides the novel into four multi-chapter parts, named Books: Book One: Boston, Book Two: The Sea, Book Three: Hampshire, and Book Four: The Court. Book One, however, also includes Philadelphia. For added literary fun, each Book contains a chapter or two named for one of Austen’s major novels: “Persuasion,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park,” and “Emma” along with more chapters named for other well-known, non-Austen works such as “O Captain! My Captain!,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” “The Moon and Sixpence,” and “Lost Horizon.”

A former attorney, Jenner combines her legal background with her love of Jane Austen’s novels. Readers will learn about the law’s different treatment of men and women and will be entertained by the author’s decision to insert occasional Jane Austen book club discussions carried on between other Supreme Court Justices.

Written in a style likely to remind many readers of Austen and focused on two sisters as different as any two in Austen’s work, Austen at Sea becomes as much a tribute to the beloved British writer as Jenner’s earlier The Jane Austen Society.
Reader’s should not miss the Author’s Notes explaining historical events that inspired the book and the ways the fictional account diverges from history.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy of this entertaining new novel from Natalie Jenner.

Shared on GoodReads and Barnes & Noble.

Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson are trying to break out against the restrictions women dealt with in the 1800s. After being inspired by Jane Austen, and writing letters to Jane's brother, the girls find a way to go to England. Like Jenner's earlier books, there is a heavy message of women's empowerment. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the many literary references and the historical insights about women during that time period. It’s very clear that Jenner has extensive knowledge of Austen. What an outstanding tribute to her!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Natalie Jenner for the opportunity to read the wonderful novel, Austen At Sea. It was a joy to go back in time and travel across the pond with some of my favorite literary authors.

The story revolved around two American sisters, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson who were obsessed with Jane Austen and they wanted to travel to England in order to visit with everyone and everything related to the late great Jane Austen. The only thing stopping them was their father and the fact that two young women were not allowed to travel without an escort in the year 1865. Women still had hardly any rights yet, in America or England, however it was exciting to see how these sisters figured out a way to make the trip happen anyhow.

Two others Nicholas and Haslett Nelson, who happened to be brothers, also were planning a trip to England to meet with Sir Frances Austen, brother to Jane. Both sets of siblings had been corresponding with Sir Frances Austen through letters. He encouraged all of them to visit at the same time.

All four were about to embark on the trip of a lifetime whether they were accepted to travel or not. Aboard the ship they would also meet up with some other prominent socialites such as Louisa May Alcott, eventually the author of Little Women. Their trip was filled with many activities and getting to know one another.

It was fun to read about how all of these people interacted and behaved during a time when women were not yet allowed the same opportunities as men. It was also interesting to see how popular Jane Austen already had become and also to see the perceived lively personality of Louisa M. Alcott.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and enjoyed reading all about these different characters. It was a great mix of fiction and historical events that happened during the 1800's, especially those involving women. I highly recommend anyone who loves Jane Austen and this time period in history to read this novel.

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner is a charming story from the first sentence to the last.
A flawlessly written historical fiction novel. With captivating characters, likable characters, beautiful setting that you can envision while reading.
A delight to read and such a well written and absorbing novel.
A charming read of trauma and tragedy, hope and renewal.
Natalie Jenner sure knows how to write a mesmerizing historical fiction story!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!