4.5⭐️ This was Back to the Future meets Austenland, and I ate it up! It was a true Austen-inspired enemies to lovers that kept me interested and up reading way too late at night. Hugh Balfour was perfectly Darcy-esque, and Tess Bright was an amalgamation of my favorite Austen heroines balanced with her own uniqueness. I can’t wait for this to be released so everyone else can enjoy it too!

If you're into rom-coms with a twist and a little time travel chaos, The Austen Affair should absolutely be on your TBR. It's got that perfect mix of banter, tension, and magical realism that makes the story feel both grounded and totally whimsical. Think The Seven Year Slip energy but set in Jane Austen's world plus Bridgerton vibes.

Tess Bright is trying to revive her career (and maybe her entire reputation) by starring in a period drama. Enter Hugh Balfour: British, broody, and absolutely not impressed by Tess’s Teen Choice Awards. Their chemistry is rocky at best…until an electrical accident zaps them 200 years into the past and suddenly they’re stuck in the actual Regency era. Casual.

I loved the enemies-to-lovers slow burn between Tess and Hugh. The banter is so fun and the dynamic between them really evolves as they’re forced to rely on each other. And the historical setting? Surprisingly immersive without feeling stuffy. It’s playful and clever, with just enough emotional depth to keep it grounded.

Some of the Austen references felt a little on-the-nose, and the pacing dragged a bit but nothing that pulled me out of the story for long. If you liked the soft magical realism and emotional pull of The Seven Year Slip, this totally delivers in a similar way (but with more corsets and carriage rides).

Final verdict: sweet, smart, and full of charm. Definitely recommend if you’re into modern romances with a historical twist and a hint of magic.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

As a fan of Jane Austen and modern romances, I was delighted to read The Austen Affair. I love the enemies to lovers trope and thought Tess and Hugh's path from loathing to love was well done. I enjoyed the secondary characters so much and think the story wouldn't have landed as well without them. All the key "types" from an Austen novel are present and accounted for including the rake and nosy neighbor.

rating — 3.5 out of 5 stars.

upon reading this book, i find myself reminded of keri russell’s masterful work of art austenland: i, as an austen fan, am having a great time. do i think it’s quite as much fun for someone who isn’t as rabid about her works? maybe not. but i still think it holds up decently without the framework of a prior obsession.

i’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again: i love a little magical twist to my romances. i think it’s a fun, easy way to give a work a little extra oomph, and it usually works quite well to make a work stand out a bit from its peers. i think that is the case here as well — overall, i think that hugh and tess had a nice story, but the whole time travel thing definitely bumped them up a notch for me. i love hijinks! i love watching them bumble their way through hugh pretending to be his own great-great-whatever dead uncle! it’s more fun this way. if the two of them weren’t shepherded into a period-appropriate engagement and wedding, i probably would’ve been a little less enthused about their overall journey. but they are, and the stakes provide an appropriate urgency to both their predicament and relationship. this was an easy, breezy read for me — the whipped cream of books. maybe there’s not much substance, but it’s a light and frothy topping for a sweet treat.

Feel like I was thrown into the book abruptly.
Telling not showing

I really enjoyed this book. The story was a cute tale of two people thrown back in time to Regency Hampshire. I loved the originality, the love story, and the personalities of each of the characters. I also loved how the struggle to properly fit in with society two hundred years ago was present, rather than the main characters fitting in with no trouble whatsoever. All in all, there’s a complicated but sweet couple to root for, Austen-esque villains, and a surprise cameo. Also great anxiety rep in the male love interest.

The two hardest parts for me were the entry to the story and the writing itself. I felt as though I was thrown in and didn’t get a proper introduction. As such, it took me a while to get my bearings and buy into the story. As for the writing, it was a lot of telling rather than showing. There was page after page of the main character’s thoughts rather than anything happening. It felt like the story was being explained to me. After a while I found myself skimming the longer sections without any dialogue. It felt like they could’ve cut at least 10%-20% of the book out and we’d have still come to the same conclusion.

Overall, great story, but if an abundance of exposition isn’t your thing, I’d be wary.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and easy read that I mostly enjoyed. I think that adding a little more backstory to Tess would be beneficial because she was incredibly grating to me most of the book. I think if you are a chronically online Jane Austen fan, you will enjoy this book.

Thanks to the author and published for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the brightest, freshest take on time travel romance that I'd read in a very long time. Focusing on the relationships between the characters, and building those out this would make a great book club or readers advisory pick. It was the right amount of heart and heat (one chapter to skip for your puritanical readers) for the setting that it never felt overwhelming. Our two main characters both act like adults throughout and it was especially refreshing to not have to suffer through a third act break-up. I'm excited to watch Madeline Bell, I think we're going to see great things come from her, including The Austen Affair. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish, and had a wonderful trip back in time. This was a five-star enemies-to-lovers time travel extravaganza!

Tess is an actress who needs a boost in the industry, and lands the ultimate role starring in Northanger Abbey. Not only will this role prove she is a serious and talented actress, but she will be able to personally honor her mother, a Jane Austen fan. The only problem is she will be working with Hugh, a very serious method actor with a high pedigree - and because of this, he does not jive well with Tess. The two must come together to bring chemistry to their roles, but when there is an electrical malfunction on set, they are hurdled back in time to Jane Austen's timeframe. Now Tess and Hugh must figure out together how to blend and get out of Regency Era England, all while not screwing up history in the process.

This was a delight of a plotline and read! This was a great blend of contemporary and past - Tess and Hugh do have great chemistry, and I loved reading about their missteps and adventures into the past. All of that fun, combined with Jane Austen references?! What is not to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up because I had a great time!

It's a whacky premise, but if you can suspend your belief, it's a fun ride. An actress struggling with her career, and a seemingly stodgy and stiff actor get paired together in a Jane Austen adaptation of Northanger Abbey. Both have their own motivations, but unfortunately, seem to have no chemistry on screen. Then all of a sudden they find themselves transported 200 years in the past, where all they have is their acting skills and each other.

Funny and occasionally poignant, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The writing could be tightened up, but there are some literary real gems, and as an Austen fan, I of course enjoyed all the references. In general, first person is not my favorite narration style, since it requires a certain amount of obtuseness/obliviousness on the main character's part. That said, I thought Tess was charming and deeply relatable. Between her and Hugh, the romance sometimes fell a little flat, but some moments were genuinely heartwarming, especially when either character opened up and were vulnerable.

I would recommend this for some fun and easy regency reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced review!

Tess has just landed her dream role in an Austen adaptation — but her excitement is quickly dampened by her uptight, method-actor costar, Hugh. He won’t rehearse lines with her, refuses to get to know her, and seems all too willing to believe the worst about rumors from her last job. Their on-set feud comes to a shocking halt when an electrical jolt sends them back in time to the Regency era, where they’re forced to rely on each other to find a way home.

A clever, time-slip enemies-to-lovers romance full of Austen references, this is a must-read for fans of time travel and Jane! Both Tess and Hugh are messy in a wonderfully human way — not always likable, but always relatable. The writing is strong, the pacing brisk, and the ensemble cast adds charm and depth, just like a classic Austen novel or film.

A really fun, fresh read — highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was absolutely fantastic - so good I finished it in one sitting, which never happens.

Enemies to lovers, where the characters were actually reasonably mature. Their animosity didn’t build on a simple misunderstanding, and there wasn’t a 3rd act breakup based on a different misunderstanding.

The supporting characters were also fantastic - especially little George, which surprised me since I usually don’t like children in books. And the celebrity cameo was a nice touch!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this. All opinions are my own.

Two feuding actors/co-stars find themselves flung from 2025 and into the 1800s. As they try to figure out how to make it back to their real lives, they start to fall in love. The premise intrigued me and I think it had a lot of promise. There are some fun moments throughout but I didn’t really sense any chemistry between Tess and Hugh and thought some of the dialogue was awkward. I think readers looking for a quirky homage to Austen’s greatest hits may enjoy this.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

The Austen Affair is a fizzy cocktail of enemies-to-lovers tension, Regency-era chaos, and razor-sharp wit—shaken, stirred, and served with a side of “excellent boiled potatoes.”

Madeline Bell’s debut is a time-traveling delight that drops two feuding co-stars into the pages of a Jane Austen novel and dares them to survive cravats, courtship, and their inconvenient chemistry.

Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this book is a love letter to Jane Austen, to second chances, and to the kind of slow-burn romance that makes you kick your feet in delight. It’s Bridgerton meets Notting Hill with a lightning strike, and I adored every second of it.

Thank you to Madeline Bell and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

AMAZING. PERFECT. NO NOTES. I can’t even describe how lucky i feel being able to read this early. The premise alone had me hooked from the start and right from the first chapter to the very end, the author had me INVESTED. I absolutely love a book with bits of magical realism/time travel. The way the author crafted the setting of the regency era felt quite immersive and the way Hugh and Tess had to navigate through such a different time period from 2025, was so fun to read!! Fans of Jane Austen will love this time loop twist and the chemistry between Hugh and Tess is SOOO GOOD!

Tess Bright is hoping her upcoming starring role in a remake of Northanger Abbey will help to resurrect her struggling acting career. After several years starring in an increasingly strange TV series, Tess has been replaced on the show. She lost her mother, who was her best friend, and has been unable to come to terms with her grief. Her love of Jane Austen comes from her mother, who always had an Austen adaptation playing in the background. Her job on the set is made more difficult by the taciturn and rude nature of her co-star, Hugh Balfour. Hugh makes no secret of the fact that he finds Tess to be erratic and unserious. Tess wants to have a good relationship with him off-screen so their on-screen interactions will feel more natural, but Hugh makes it clear he wants to stay as far away from her as possible. Then, during a storm, they are both accidentally shocked when a heater falls into a puddle. When they wake up, they find they have been transported to 1815 England. Hugh's family is from the area where they were filming (and are transported back to) and he is soon reunited with an ancestor who was mourning the death of his soon at Waterloo -- the son that Hugh is immediately presumed to be. While the family is overjoyed at having him back, Hugh begins to worry about how his presence in that long ago era might impact the future. If his ancestor didn't inherit the estate due to the rightful heir returning from the dead to claim it, will the future Hugh even be born? While wrestling with this issue, the former enemies must navigate a time where societal rules were much different than what they were used to. They must also try to work out how they're going to return to the present, all while getting to know each other better.

I enjoyed the romance that was building between Tess and Hugh. It was nice when Tess got to meet her idol, Jane Austen, but sadly, poor Jane wasn't given much time in the story. It would have been interesting if she could have had a bigger part! The day-to-day lives also weren't delved into very deeply, which would have also made for some interesting observations. I liked Tess's boundless optimism, even when faced with unpleasant people and time-travel!

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for making this free to read.

Do you like the film Austenland? Then you *need* to read this. I would be shocked if there wasn't a film adaptation lined up for this in the future.

You got your American CW-esque actor who grabs a role in Northanger Abbey adaptation. Her co=star is a seasoned, period piece British actor. The two of them together on a set? Well, it's the typical case of who has the biggest clout and who has the right to be there. Naturally, he does. Doesn't matter if she has a childhood obsession paired with her mother that made her take this role. Doesn't matter that loosing her mother on her last show caused some issues on set. She's already floating on thin ice, and overhears a phone conversation of him tearing into her.

During a scene on-location, where it's about to rain, they get into a fight, causing the set to stop for the day as the storm rolls in. They continue this fight under the tent, and when there is a brief moment of touch lightning strikes and they are sent back in time. Of course, our female lead is in the dark but our male lead quickly realizes - fast - that 'Dorothy and Toto ain't in Kansas anymore'.

There are Austen nods, film adaptation and text alike. There is also heart-felt moments where the male lead and the female lead break down their barriers. Grief on her end ; confidence and hesitation on his. The more they stay in this time period, the more one of them doesn't want to leave. Which made me wonder how exactly the story would end.

I really enjoyed this story, and while it seemed there have been some time-travel Austen stories cropping up over the last couple years, this one felt right? It just came together really well (and, there was a ton of Butterfly effect / Back to the Future nods).

The only reason I knocked it down a star is that I felt the romantic antagonists weren't really present or doing their job until the last fourth of the book, which made it kind of come up as a 'oh, here comes the r0adblock to happiness'. Yet, they were handled in a mature / reasonable way.

This one was so cute! Two feuding co-stars filming an adaptation of Northanger Abbey get unexpectedly transported back to the countryside Regency England. Its rivals to lovers with time travel meets Bridgerton vibes. There’s also themes of grief, death and illness of a parent and trying to figure out how to be happy after a loss. Totally unique and a breath of fresh air. It’s really a love letter to Jane Austen and her novels. Loved all of the references to the novels and movies.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Pub date 9/16/25.

This was so fun! I love a good Jane Austen world adaptation, and I easily finished this in one day.

Our POV in The Austen Affair is the FMC, a modern actress from a Riverdale-like show who is playing Catherine Moreland in a film adaptation of The Northanger Abbey alongside the serious actor MMC playing Henry Tilney. We suspend disbelief and the pair are thrown back to 1810s Regency England.

The FMC is more Emma Woodhouse than Elizabeth Bennet, in my opinion. She made me cringe a few times from her choices and comments, but she always had good intentions and righted her wrongs. She also could not help herself but to be nosy in everyone's business. The MMC is definitely more Darcy than Henry Tilney, with bad social skills on first impression. The supporting characters were amusing, and I appreciated that the Regency folks weren't just displayed as stuffy or wooden.

The writing immediately drew me in and kept a good pace with no lulls. Some people might be annoyed that the FMC's language while in the Regency era was likely a little too modern, but the Regency era people do comment on her strange words and I was willing to suspend belief. The author's appreciation and research of Regency era shone through with fun tidbits and details.

You definitely don't need to have read any or all of Jane Austen's books or have seen the screen adaptations to read this, but it'll just be more fun if you have. I am also glad this book gave attention to Northanger Abbey, an underappreciated Austen novel! One note, there is a lot of discussion of grief, both of a deceased parent and one with a degenerative condition, but it is handled well. This is a really impressive debut, and I will definitely be interested in future books from the author!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the arc!

This book was so fun and I really enjoyed it a lot! I loved the time traveling aspect of it so much. This made me want to start reading Jane Austen’s novels! I highly recommend this to fans of Jane Austen and people who have never picked up her work before. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!