I wanted so badly to like this book, but all it accomplished was making me roll my eyes and regret picking it up in the first place. Nothing about the story stands out, nor do the characters. The constant Austen quotes, while expected, were tiresome.

Unfortunately I was expecting more historical fiction than light, breezy chic lit with an element of time travel and history. The world-building was the best part, with the historical time period and location realized fully and richly.

I'm a big fan of Jane Austen, but this was a little too Hallmark movie-y for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Thank you so much Madeline Belle, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a cute Jane Austen tribute story that didn’t quite do it justice. The writing is conversational. MMC and the FMC are transported back in time and accepted it quickly. I enjoy implausible story elements as long as they’re applied well, the plot is reasonable, the story is immersive with lovable characters. But this book all fell short on all of it. There was no world-building. Setting was just labeled as "magnificent", "show-offy". So much promise hindered by limitations of execution. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I’m so sorry I didn’t love it but I think there are many book lovers who would love to sit down with this cozy comfort read for an afternoon with some tea.

A delight! This book has heart and humor. I’m not sure exactly how she accomplished it, but Bell leaves you feeling that love, loss, joy, and romance have all had their time in her sun… All without compromising the fact that this book is a romp!

3.25⭐️ so delightful especially as a jane austen lover. I loved the cast of characters and was surprised by some really heartfelt passages about grief, but parts of this book struggled a little with a lot of telling rather than showing. glad I read it tho - it felt like sipping a cup of tea while watching your favorite romcom.

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.