Cheesy, but cute. I would recommend The Austen Affair more so if you are a Jane Austen fan. The Regency-era, the outfits, the mention of her characters, and even Janeygirl herself! It is all packed in during this time-travel romance novel. Everyone loves an enemies-to-lovers trope. Myself included! So this was fun, adorable, romantic.

As an avid reader, I have to say, The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell was an absolute treat! I'm always on the lookout for unique romances, and this one truly delivered with its fantastic blend of historical fiction and time travel. From the moment the two feuding co-stars found themselves accidentally flung back to the Regency Era, I was completely hooked. The humor was spot-on, and I absolutely adored all the clever nods and references to Jane Austen's works – it felt like a little easter egg hunt for a fellow Austen fan like myself! But what truly shone for me was the incredible chemistry and top-tier banter between the main characters; their back-and-forth was pure gold and had me smiling constantly.

While I admit there were a couple of moments where the plot felt a tad fast-paced or a little confusing, it certainly didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. This is definitely a closed-door romance, which I appreciated as the focus was entirely on the emotional development and the evolving relationship between the characters, rather than anything explicit. If you're looking for a genuinely fun, witty, and charming escape with a unique premise and characters you can't help but root for, I highly recommend picking up The Austen Affair. It was a delightful read that left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. While I was excited for this Austen-inspired enemies-to-lovers romance, it ultimately didn’t fully deliver for me. The main character’s upbeat personality often veered into grating, and the romantic pairing felt more mismatched than magnetic. Modern-day references disrupted the historical tone, making it hard to stay immersed, and the slow pacing made it a challenge to stay engaged. I also think a dual POV could have helped deepen the emotional connection. There were charming moments and a fun concept, but overall, it didn’t quite live up to its potential.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

I had so much fun with this book…except for a few minor details (I’ll get to that in a bit). I loved the references to Jane Austen’s books and the setting of Regency era England because-I’m saying it right now-Austen is the queen of romances and I will forever hold her works near and dear to my heart. ❤️ I actually think the first romance book I ever read was Pride and Prejudice, and I adore it. (Question: which is your favorite P&P adaptation? I’d love to hear which ones you like best ☺️) So I completely relate to and understand Tess’s giddiness to the situation she and her co-star, Hugh, find themselves in.

Tess and Hugh were good characters. Flawed, sometimes relatable, and they developed as characters as the book progressed. I enjoyed their banter and, later on, their friendship/romance, which pushed them to be vulnerable and understanding with each other. I also like that the side characters were there for a reason and actually were on the scene when they needed to be. 👍🏼 However, I felt that some of the feelings Hugh felt for Tess were more telling than showing. His dislike for her was evident and I thought it was funny, but I guess I wanted to be convinced that he liked her with some lingering gazes or whatever. It’s really nothing, though, because I liked their eventual romance, which leads to a spice scene, just to let you know. 👍🏼

What took half a star off for me was the plot. How does the electrical accident send them back to the past? Did someone make a wish or something that I missed? Was it just a freak accident? I guess I shouldn’t care because, hello-it’s fiction. But that bit confused me. The other minor issue for me was the amount of things that were happening. It was one thing after another and, gosh, why were they there in the first place? Oh yeah. They got zapped into the past. Duh. I forgot in the midst of side quests and drama. But the plot kept me intrigued and I breezed through the book. 💕

So do I recommend this enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship romance book? Heck yeah, I do! Especially if you are a big fan of Jane Austen. This was literally so fun and I’m so glad I’ve stopped taking romance books too seriously because, honey, they were meant to be enjoyed, so just enjoy them! 🫶🏼

So, I loved the premise of this but it just wasn’t for me. I think the present felt to modern (which I know is weird because obviously we’re currently living in the present) but it just didn’t balance with the past well? That being said, I feel like it was a me problem and others will enjoy the time travel element in this one! Bravo to the author for going out on a limb and trying something different.

** spoiler alert ** ARC review courtesy of NetGalley!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It delivered the classic enemies-to-lovers trope but felt fresh and different from most contemporary romances. The time travel twist and clever incorporation of Jane Austen’s world added a unique layer. The historical setting felt so real—I could truly imagine myself navigating those gender roles and expectations. Overall, a fun and refreshing read with a nostalgic, thoughtful edge.

I love a take on a Jane Austen story. And the queen herself showing up? Iconic. The time travel element was done well and not too kooky which it can be. Our main characters were cute with the will they won't they and I loved it.

4.5 stars – The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell was a fabulous read! If you are a huge Jane Austen fan, you will love this one. We have the two lead actors from Northanger Abbey, Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour, who have a rough go as they are filming their roles. An electrical accident occurs on the set and sends them back 200 years in time. They work together to find a way back to the proper time and learn about each other and love along the way. This will make you laugh and cry – such a good novel.

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for allowing me to receive a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NetGalley, #StMartins

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC of "The Austen Affair."

This book might have taken over 1st place for “Best Rom-Com 2025.” I had to sit for a few days to gather my complete thoughts on this wonderfully written novel. Literally devoured it and didn’t want it to end. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, read this book! The pacing is perfect and never felt like it was dragging, the prose is excellent, and the tropes are delicious. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, time travel—what more could you ask for?! I’ve never related to a character’s inner monologue more in my life and the metaphors Madeline uses are so imaginative and provide phenomenal imagery. I felt like I was in Regency Era England with a touch of modernity thrown in. I’ve never read anything like this before, and I was so pleasantly surprised. The parallels and references to not only Austen, but Brontë, and pop-culture too, brought the themes of "The Austen Affair" to life. Madeline was able to seamlessly blend the vernacular of Austen with our 21st century lexicon flawlessly. The yearning, near touches, stolen breaths, and of course 19th century spats, had me in an absolute chokehold.

Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour’s story, along with George and Aunt Fanny, will live in my brain rent free for the foreseeable future. The honest and open communication between Tess & Hugh was so refreshing. It was nice to see a healthy relationship blossom in such an organic way, well, as organic as it can be with time travel. Their character development was fantastic and truly believable. While I related to Tess’ inner monologue the most, I relate to Hugh in more ways than I thought especially his overly anxious, introverted self.

I cannot recommend this book enough! If you enjoy witty, heartfelt, rom-com, Austen-esque books with some powerful life lessons delivered in a gentle but firm way, this is your next read.

This was highly enjoyable. Funny, loved the throwbacks and the writing was super easy to read. Want to read a similar book.

If you are a fan of realistic romances with a time traveling twist and nods to Jane Austen, this is the perfect book for you. The enemies to lovers dynamic of the characters was perfect for this story and I was fond of the characters' back stories that were revealed as the story developed. I will say that the lust the female protagonist develops felt a little rushed within the story, but their emotional bond had a better pace to it. Overall, I enjoyed this light read with a splash of emotional deepness thrown in.

This was an absolutely DELIGHTFUL read.

Tess is down on her luck both professionally and personally. She has lost her steady career on a teen-drama, but also lost her mother to cancer 18 months ago and is still in the throes of grief. Still, she is bound and determined to make the Northanger Abbey adaptation she was cast in her comeback role even if her co-star, Hugh Belfour, has the largest stick up his ass of anyone she has ever met. But when these two are thrown back in time and Hugh is mistaken for his aristocratic ancestor, Tess and Hugh have to think quickly and work together to not only cover their modern tracks, but find a way back to the 21st century.

As someone who loves Jane Austen’s work, I was intrigued by the summary of <i>The Austen Affair</i> and the unsaid promise that this book wasn’t going to take itself too seriously.

One of the benefits from a time-travel plot in a Contemporary Romance is that the book cannot take itself too seriously, and neither can the reader. If you can buy into time travel, the book is betting you can buy into Hugh looking strikingly like a dead ancestor, Jane Austen living in said village (she is not overused here as a side-character), and the easy breezy way in which Tess just accepts the events while Hugh is a bit more concerned. You can buy into the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, a forced engagement and rushed wedding planning to protect Tess’ reputation. Above all else, if you can buy into all of that, you are buying into the lightheartedness of the story and will enjoy it for what it simply <i>is.</i>

Because at its heart, this is a simple romp through 19th century Hampshire where both characters grow as people and learn to see one another as more than just co-stars…while talking to Jane Austen a couple times. They fall in love, manage to make it back home, and at worst only change the timeline by teaching dinner guests how to play Go-Fish.

I just had a really great time with this book. It’s charming as hell without trying to be while also tackling the impending loss of a loved one, the grief after that, and how to pick yourself up and move on. The Romance is well developed and doesn’t feel rushed which in a book barely over 300 pages isn’t always easy to do. Between all of that, it's fun most of the time and silly a little bit of the time! You don't even have to know much about Austen's work to enjoy it! How else can I sell you on this???

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC!

This book was a funny, quirky, fast paced read. I loved all of the Austen references and how they tied back to Tess’ love for her mother. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

3.75/5

The perfect time traveling romance! It is silly, light and cute but also touches on grief and heartbreak. The book was a great depiction of a modernized Jane Austen novel. I devoured this in less than two days!l I guess, my only critiques are : 1) I feel like we get to know the main two characters but only on a surface level because the serious discussions happened far too quickly, 2) the end was way too abrupt! I need repercussion on their present lives, I need to understand how the time traveling affected their body and what was it like for people around them?? I crave DETAILS.

Overall, such a good romcom and boy we all know how many bad ones are out there. Fortunately, this is not one of them.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s press for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for am honest review*

Whether you’re a lover of Jane Austen or simply a lover of a well written novel, this one’s for you! However, if you are a fan of Jane Austen, this book will no doubt delight your 18th century heart. The transport back in time was so nostalgic and the intertextuality connecting the Jane Austen novels were exquisite. I loved being transported back in time to the Victorian era where men were chilverous and the quaintness of Early Modern English ruled the day.

I loved the character development in this romantic, historical fiction. Tess and Hugh, both actors and jerks in their own right, possess unique ties to England. Getting to know them was quite nice although neither were likable at the beginning. They both slowly grew on me just like their slow burning romance captured them.

The author certainly did her due diligence in writing this book. The story was unique and original with the exception of the lightening. I mean… Can we find another way to transport folk to the past? Nonetheless, it worked for this story.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC. I’d definitely recommend this book!

The Austen Affair is a sweet treat! This silly, swoony rom-com featuring two feuding co-stars from a Northanger Abbey adaptation left me giggling in plenty of places. And the banter is *chef’s kiss*. It was an unexpectedly awesome mash-up of enemies-to-lovers, time travel, and Austen vibes.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was just okay., It was a tough one to get through, and i really struggled at some parts. It felt like the book was either rushed or not fully developed at some parts.

The characters fell short for me. I couldnt buy into them individually or as a couple. They really lacked chemistry, which was so disappointing.

The world building was good atleast, and i liked the immersion it gave.

As an avid fan of Jane Austen, I was really looking forward to this novel. The premise sounded really interesting, but unfortunately it did not land for me. I didn’t sense any real chemistry between the characters and instead of being charmed I struggled.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars for this one!

I did enjoy it. I truly did. I thought the concept was very cute and obviously Extremely Up My Alley. I did, for the most part, love the characters. Sometimes Tess and Hugh did grate on me with their absolute lack of confidence in themselves. But we persevered. George was the TRUE star of this book and I would like a sequel of his life story. My main issue that I encountered was that even though this is obviously not a real situation (spoiler alert sorry time travel isn’t real), the book just picked and chose which parts of history it wanted to address. There was so much stress on how hard it was to fit into the time period but then almost no discussion of what would actually be difficult about adjusting to the past. This is a time travel regency romance so I can’t be too harsh but STILL I would have liked to see slightly more discussion of those issues. Although it was Exceedingly Cheesy, this book was still a fun read and very much reminded me of Austenland. My only true complaint was that Chapter 27 was just… not for me. But the chemistry was there. A for effort.

The Austen Affair is a rom-com about two actors, Tess and Hugh, and their adventures when they find out they have been transported to Regency England. While Tess and Hugh didn't really get along at first, I was interested to see how their relationship would develop when taken back in time. I thought the side characters really added to the story.

However, there were some elements of the story that were hard to get through. Specifically, some of the modern day references made it so that the reader wasn't really immersed in the world of Jane Austen alongside the main characters. And some of the occurrences with the characters didn't really seem plausible.

If you enjoy a Regency rom-com, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you to St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC!