As an avid fan of both Jane Austen and time travel tropes, I really wanted to love The Austen Affair. The premise had so much promise, but unfortunately, the execution just didn’t land for me. The plot felt overly contrived, and despite my best efforts, I struggled to stay engaged. I kept hoping it would pick up, but I found myself having to push through just to avoid DNF-ing.

That said, I appreciate the opportunity to read this in advance. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

First of all many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the eARC!

This book was adorable and I read it in a single day without much pause. A nice distraction from being sick, as I was instantly transported to a different world. The character development and plot was much like a Hallmark movie, and I’m always here for an enemy to lovers trope. Plus JANE AUSTEN references galore…. need I say more?

Tess had so much heart, and I love seeing a girl with an over the top golden retriever personality pitted against a deeply misunderstood and angsty man who doesn’t realize that under this woman’s puppy persona lies heaps of angst too. Oh, and, plot twist, the angsty man is a bit of a goldie too.

*gasp* could these two actually be more alike than they thought?!

The chapters couldn’t go fast enough!

This being said, I did have some difficulty (personally) with some of the content. This book could have been R rated in terms of language and sexual content, and I felt that those additives really spoiled the lighthearted and cozy feel. I love Jane Austen books for their innocence and respectability, and content like I mentioned above felt out of place in a book that seemed to highly revere and gather inspiration from her work. I just feel like the story and characters were cheapened a bit. Jane Austen’s characters were products of true love, and I feel that this book emphasized lust a bit too much.

Parting from that opinion, however, this book was definitely a favorite! I love time travel and romance and heart, and I love when men cry.

With all that in mind, if you’re interested in a quick read and gorgeously quotable swoon-worthy moments, this book is for you and I recommend it!

Alright, confession: even though I’ve seen lots of movies and even went to the premiere of Emma staring Anya Taylor-Joy I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything by Jane Austen. (It’s on the list, okay, but so are a lot of other things!)

This book gave me flashbacks to buying Gossip Girl paperbacks as a kid. The immense amount of name drops made it clear this book won’t stand the test of time. I was hoping I’d walk away from The Austen Affair inspired to read actual Jane Austen but instead I walk away feeling like “I’m too old for this”

Reality TV enjoyers this book may be for you.

This book has a very Bridget Jones Diary vibe about it. A bright and fun main character with a grumpy, uptight enemies to lovers leading man. It's hard to see the two ever really coming together, they're just too different. The main character grates on the nerves to read.

As a sucker for all things Jane Austen, this didn’t disappoint. The story begins as two modern day costars with very different personalities, accidentally travel back in time to the regency era while on set for the film adaptation of Northanger Abbey. The plot reminded me of a game of mash up with a blend of genres, pop culture, modern day quips and Jane Austen references from her books to different film adaptations like Austenland. If you are a Janeite and enjoy any sort of Austen related material, then buckle up for this electric enemies to lovers time traveling book with a hint of spice.

“Be glad when you have someone, and when they are gone, be glad you had them once.”

Thank you NetGalley for this adorable book! Loved the love story, the references to Jane Austen, and the nervous but equally adorbs MMC

This book brought me so such joy. The writing was great. Communication between Tess and Hugh was refreshing. I loved the banter between them. I found myself giggling and kicking my feet! Also the Jane Austen references made my heart happy! I found myself wanting more. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, slow burn romance, witty banter, and time travel this is a must read! It was a great time.

I loved this book! The characters are totally lovable, the storyline is captivating and engaging, and the FMC’s inner dialogue is hilarious. Kudos, I’ve already recommended this book to several people!

A novel that would make Jane Austen proud! This charming romcom follows feuding coworkers Tess and Hugh as they unexpectedly time travel to the 1800s. With solid writing, relatable characters, and witty banter, it’s an enjoyable and immersive escape. I especially appreciated how the author handled Tess and Hugh’s grief; it was thoughtful, authentic, and deeply resonant. While it wasn’t perfect (the chemistry felt a bit forced and the love scene was… different), the engaging plot, unique setting, and strong prose make this a compelling debut.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

As a fan of romance books in general and the work of Jane Austen in particular, I really enjoyed this read.
It's a fun time travel story full of tropes such as mistaken identities and fake dating, but also does not shy away from deeper topics, eg loss of a parent.
In addition, I appreciated all the Jane Austen character references. But not to worry, you don't need to be an Austen buff to enjoy this book.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this one! Fun time travel romance. Loved all the nods to Jane Austen. I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and Tess and Hugh didn’t disappoint!

Could not put down this modern-turned-vintage regency romcom! Tess Bright gives 19th century Miss Congeniality! Fabulous!

Another breath of fresh. I loved this book, and I’m usually very wary of time travel. However, going back to 1800’s Hampshire, England aka the Jane Austen era - well that filled a void I didn’t even know I had.

We meet Tessa Bright, a famous present day actress, grieving the recent death of her mother while filming an Austen film on location in England. She is to star in the film opposite Hugh Balfour, a pretentious British method actor who doesn’t seem to think highly of Tess. An unlikely accident involving a puddle and a space heater sends them back in time 200 years to Hugh’s family estate. He’s conveniently mistaken for a past relative and the both of them are welcomed into their home.

This book is filled with vivid characters, witty dialogue, and just a fun and insightful read. I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Austen Affair is for anyone who:
- has wished to live out a Jane Austen romance.
- enjoys Shakespeare.
- likes a forced proximity trope.
- gets comfort from slow-paced, low-stakes plot.
- is dealing with grief, loss of a parent, and wants a comfort book with elements they’ll relate to.
- doesn’t take reading too seriously.

This book didn’t end up being for me, the slow pace had me setting the book down more than picking it up.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this arc!

I was so excited for this one, but unfortunately I felt like it fell a little flat for me. I had a very rough time getting into this read, and ultimately felt like I was not able to connect with either of the main characters. I personally also feel this book would have been great as a dual POV.

However, what I did love was the authors beautiful writing style. It was almost whimsical, especially weird her attention to detail with the time period and settings. I also enjoyed how thoughtful she was in writing about the grief both characters were experiencing.

Overall I give this 3 stars!

First and foremost, a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Bell’s book.
I’ve seen some reviews saying that if you enjoy and love Jane Austen’s books then you’re in for a big treat, something that you won’t forget. Before I go into my personal opinion of the book (which I’ll say it comfortably sits at a 3.75), I would perhaps go a bit further and say that it may not be such an accurate statement, rather: if you deeply enjoy Austen’s movie adaptations and adjacent films, then you are going to really appreciate The Austen Affair.
I should say I do not intend that as a bad description, rather an accurate one. Though most of the book takes place in the regency period, it is in no way reminiscent of Austen’s literary style or even plot. That is not to say I did not enjoy it, because I did! In fact, it reminded me quite a lot to the movie Austenland –which was later mentioned, so I’m pretty sure it was intentional–, a film I deeply enjoy. There’s even a direct homage to the movie, what with Tess playing ‘Hot in herre’, song that the main character in Austenland also plays.
The story is nothing innovative, though still maintains a lively disposition to amenable dialogues. The characters are predisposed, even before we really get to know them –and that is if we do–, to be a certain way; Hugh is the grumpy archetype, Tess is the bright and sure-of-herself girl. I do, however, think the chemistry amongst them was rapidly introduced and with not enough fundaments. The reader knows they are going to end up together not because they have undeniable feelings for each other, but because they are mere recipients of tropes, be it a ‘sunshine and grumpy dynamic’ or, as some have pointed out, an ‘enemies to lovers’ arc. It feels like the narrative almost depends on the tropes, though now the literary virtual world has such a vast definition for ‘enemies to lovers’ that even two coworkers who do not see eye to eye would catalogue as such.
Now, my main problem with the book is that it tends to not trust its reader, rather dumbing down any Austen reference. There are plenty of both book and movie references in The Austen Affair, most commonly Tess blurting a quote from the Emma book or a Pride and Prejudice adaptation. While I don’t think this is a bad choice, it a) tends to feel repetitive to a certain extend and b) it’s always followed by an explanation. The reader never gets discover by itself where certain quote or character is from, impromptu interrupted by the narrator mentioning where specifically it is from. Certainly, many people won’t know where a quote or dialogue is from, but I imagine this book is intended for readers who already enjoy Austen’s work –or at least know about it enough to be interested in reading this–, so it just ends up feeling as if the author doesn’t trust its audience to make the necessary connections.
Overall, a light and amicable take about how Austen’s body of work keeps shaping the world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

The Austin Affair was a fun and easy read. I liked the mix of romance, mystery and magical realism! Madeline Bell’s writing is entertaining, and I really liked the setting. It flows well and is really fun for the right audience!

This was a fun little read! It captures the essence of a modern Austen novel, with a quirky female main character and her stuffy co star with their evolving relationship. The flashback to the past was fun, though some of the language didn’t mirror that of the time period from the minor characters, but there were several twists and special guests that made it worth it. The tie ins to actual Austen novels- rain scene for example- made this a kick your feet in the air type of romance novel. Was it a bit predictable? Yup. But it’s a lovely palette cleanser that makes you feel good to read.

Tess Bright hasn't had the best year. She's recovering from losing her mother and her job. But she's determined to prove herself as a serious actress after landing her dream role in an adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Her mom was a huge Jane Austen fan and Tess wants to do her mom proud. But her co-star, very serious British actor Hugh Balfour, wants nothing to do with Teen Choice Award-winning actress Tess. He's stiff-upper-lip. She's a bit of a mess.

Sparks fly, literally, when there's an electrical accident on site. It sends the two feuding actors back 200 years into the Regency era. They have to rely on each other to convince others (including Hugh's ancestors) that they belong there while trying to find a way to get back to their time. And relying on each other leads to a grudging truce, which leads to a friendship, which leads to...more.

I've been in a romance reading slump lately, and this book absolutely pulled me out of it. I lapped it up. I lost track of what station I was at on the Metro because I was so invested in this story and these characters. The author perfectly balances humor and romance with a tinge of sadness, and she made me a big fan of Tess and Hugh.

This was truly a delight.

This book had a really engaging premise, the dynamic between the characters worked well, especially with the contrast in personalities and the slow shift from tension to connection. Their interactions felt natural and kept me invested.

That said, the romantic development felt a bit rushed. Tess’s feelings for Hugh seemed to jump from attraction to love without enough build-up. And while her fascination with the time period was understandable, she didn’t always seem to grasp the seriousness of their situation, which made parts of the story less believable. Still, I enjoyed the dialogue and the overall concept, it was a solid and entertaining read.