I think overall I enjoyed this book, but there were some aspects that just rubbed me the wrong way. The dialog felt sooooo forced and fake, like when they were just talking to each other it was still Victorian?

There are many tributes to Jane Austen throughout this story which begins, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that women since time immemorial (or at least since 1995) have been obsessed with Colin Firth.” I knew right then I would love this book. It’s so clever and fun, even though you know it will have the familiar outlines of an Austen story - but what good romance doesn’t? And I found myself highlighting many more passages than I had expected to, either because they showed very adept writing, or conveyed very appealing ideas I wanted to remember.

Tess Bright is a 26-year-old actress in Southern California, was tapped after years on a television show for teens about Charlie Brown to star in a movie adaptation of Northanger Abbey. The male lead went to Hugh Balfour, a handsome 28-year-old British actor from a family of famous actors. It has only been nine months since the death of Tess’s lifelong best friend, her mother, and she still has been “catatonic,” as she describes it, ever since. But “Northanger Abbey” was her mom’s second-favorite Jane Austen book, and Tess was determined to pay tribute to her mom through doing a great job in the role.

Unfortunately the part required chemistry between the two leads, and Tess and Hugh had an immediate dislike for one another. (As the “About the Author” blurb reads, Madeline Bell never met an enemies-to-lovers romance she didn’t like.)

Tess hasn’t had a successful love life; as she confessed, “like Marianne Dashwood, I’ve always been more sensibility than sense.” In fact, she overheard Hugh complaining to someone on the phone: “Attach yourself to someone like Tess Bright, and the mess creeps in.” In response she said to Hugh, “You think you’re so smart. But better to be entirely without sense than to misapply it the way you do.” Hugh was shocked: “Did… you just quote *Emma* to me?” She countered: “I can *read* you know.” He retorted: “Or you can memorize Gwyneth Paltrow’s lines, at the very least.” Tess: “…it’s not Emma’s line at all. It’s Mr. Knightley’s. Maybe you’d know that if you’d read the books as much as I have. You moldy, misogynist, nepo-baby prick.” Clearly they didn’t get along. The whole chemistry thing was going to require exceptional acting.

But then the two, caught in a storm on set, were hit by lightning and transported back some 200 years to the same spot - in Hampshire, England - in 1815. They ended up taking refuge at Hugh’s ancestral home, where his (then) family thought he was his ancestor Hugh Balfour, who had supposedly lost his life fighting Napoleon at Waterloo.

What follows is a romp through Austen-land, with Tess and Hugh having to cooperate to carry off the acting role of their lives. What they discover about the past, themselves, life and love, and whether they get back to the future, is for you, dear readers, to discover. And what a delightful journey you will have!

Enjoy the Austen world from a pair of contemporary actors who experience it first hand.

Admittedly I was slow to warm up to this book. I decided to stick it out and was rewarded with a delightful, entertaining read. Several times I found myself laughing out loud. It is a lovely book to read under a shady tree one day this summer. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a lighthearted story. ⚠️ There is quite allot of gratuitous vulgarity in some places which I wish the author would remove to appeal to a larger audience. Overall a solid 4 for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

This was fantastic. It's enemies to lovers, time travel and Jane Austen, what a fun mix!

The romance here is a wonderfully done. Tess and Hugh truly could not stand each other at the beginning so it made them traveling back in time and having to work together to get back very interesting. Their romance is a little bit of everything. It's enemies to lovers, workplace romance, fake engagement, and slow burn.

The Jane Austen vibes were here so sure. The references were well executed and put a smile on my face. The shenanigans Tess and Hugh get themselves into are also hilarious.

I found this to be unique, fun and simply an unputdownable read. Janeites, run to grab this in September!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of The Austen Affair. The expected publishing date is September 2025.

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell feels like a rom-com version of Outlander. Tess and Hugh are costars, but definitely not BFFs. When they are thrown back into the age of Jane Austen from the set of their regency era, a lovely combination of hilarity and earnestness ensue.

I loved the dialogue and the rich character development. It is hard not to fall in love with Tess and Hugh with all their flows and quirks. This novel is a quick, light read full of all my favorite tropes: enemies to Iovers, time travel, and regency romance.

Two quarreling co-stars have everything riding on the success of their Northanger Abbey adaptation. Henry Balfour and Tess Bright couldn't be more different, and their mutual dislike is throwing a wet blanket on all the sparks they need to make this movie the hit they both desperately need. It looks like this is film will be a flop until electricity strikes in the most unexpected way!
I flew through this book! Like a lot of women my age, I have a slight obsession with all things Austen(thank you 2005 Pride and Prejudice). This book was warm and funny, and filled with cute Austen adaptation easter eggs. The writing was very reminiscent of Austenland and I mean that in the best possible way. The two main characters, Henry and Tess, are in turns lovable and frustrating. Both have excellent character arcs(especially for such a short book). I really appreciated how the author showed the journey of grief from two sides. Although the book deals with heavy themes(grief, parental illness) it never felt overwhelming, it was still a light/fun ride with a HEA. I'd definitely characterize this as a slow burn enemies to lovers book, the heat was "mild" but good. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has ever daydreamed about finding their own Mr. Darcy. This book is best read in a hammock, on the beach, or most preferably on a picnic blanket in the english countryside.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book!

Debut novel for Madeline Bell. We are thrown into the life of teen star Tess Bright. She had a “bright” future as a young starlet only to catch her big break by being cast opposite super star Hugh.

I wasn’t sure what the story would start as, but it has quickly evolved into every Jane Austen reference a casual reader (or internet scrolling gawker) can throw. “My inner Charlotte Lucas…” [Pride & Prejudice], “I’m more of a Marianne…” [Sense and Sensibility] all within the first two pages. Although Tess is cast as the famous Catherine Moreland in an adaption of Northhanger Abbey she attempts to relate to all the female characters written by Jane Austen.

An interesting twist on classics. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Whenever I come across novels that associate themselves with Jane Austen--through adaptation or otherwise--I am always a little weary going in, but I have to tell y’all, I had such a great time reading this book and being a part of Tess and Hugh’s journey. My favorite part about the enemies-to-lovers trope is when the main characters shift their perspective towards the other and this book didn’t disappoint! (Preconceived notions are a Pride and Prejudice standard after all)… The themes of loss, of grief, and of second chances were very well done and I seriously found myself tearing up towards the end.


The pacing of this book was my favorite part!! I could feel Tess and Hugh falling for each other and finding comfort and trust in one another in a way that made sense and made my hear flutter. What I appreciate most was how the story felt like an Austen novel. Jane Austen makes the mundane and average feel exciting and fantastical-something that was truly captured in this book. From the warmth of the Balfour home and it’s inhabitants, to the joys of spending time with friends and taking long walks through the country side. To be able to observe the characters in their everyday life as if the reader is an afterthought, as though we are unfettered by the narrator.
To any Jane Austen fans, the many references in this novel make this worth the read, I was laughing every time I spotted one. To historical fiction lovers, this book is definitely a worthy edition to the genre and one to add to your TBRs. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go re-read Northanger Abbey.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for opportunity to read this ARC!

This time-travel rom-com is as chaotic as its heroine—and all the better for it. When two sparring actors land in 1815 Hampshire, sparks fly (literally and figuratively) as they fake an engagement to find their way back home. Tess is a delightful disaster, Hugh is delightfully uptight, and together they stumble into banter, longing, and unexpected depth. Some plot devices are overused and the spicy scene gets a bit too creative with language, but the chemistry and emotional beats make it a charming read for fans of Austen and shenanigans alike.

Are you ready for an entertaining read? Check out The Austen Affair. It was a great read. Madeline Bell did a great job. It's available soon.

What an absolute delight!

"The Austen Affair" combines everything there is to love about Austen's novels and everything there is to love about a modern day heroine seamlessly. I was wholeheartedly engrossed in this heartfelt story about coping through loss, grief, nostalgia, and love.

One of my favorite reads of the year so far!

If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s books and movie/tv adaptations then this book is a must read! I enjoyed reading it to much that I could hardly put it down. This book has enemies to lovers, misunderstandings, jealousy, a fake relationship, tension and stolen glances and so much more. I felt like I was personally transported back in time experiencing everything right alongside Tess and Hugh. Both of them only had each other to trust and rely on and to be vulnerable with and that brought them such a deep understanding of one another. It was so wonderful to watch all of their judgements and preconceptions of each other fall away and their feelings towards each other grow and change. I especially love how protective they are over one another.

Read this book when it releases and you’ll be swept back in time just like I was.

This book has such a fun premise! I loved the idea of time traveling and both characters being experts in that time in history. We always love a good grumpy/sunshine trope or enemies/lovers!!

I will add that some of what put me off was how lusty Tess was for Hugh and that was about it before she switched and was in love with him. And I thought while she was adoring and soaking in the era, she was a bit flippant about the circumstances they were in. It was hard to believe a little for me. But I enjoyed their banter; it definitely gave the same vibes as the build up of Darcy's smile for Elizabeth when she visits Pemberley the first time! Like yes I knew there was more there to him!

“What is it? Are you mad I taught the ladies to play Go Fish?”

This book is absolutely hilarious! I love that Tess actually embraces their predicament and has fun with it. So many main characters refuse to adapt to their time travel situation but Tess jumped in and made it her own.
Her grief is palpable but you can feel her trying to move on but still getting pulled back. The push and pull is beautifully written and painfully realistic.
The characters are loveable, funny, and relatable. I also appreciate that Tess completely flubs meeting Jane Austen because who among us wouldn't?!
So, so, so cute!!
Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Cute and sweet enemies to lovers trope. It had a surprising, sentimental aspect that focused on love ones grief and how it can impact future relationships. Austen is a minor figure in the book, and while it kind of follows the "never meet your heros" mentality, Austen is still viewed in a positive light. Good summertime read for those who like romance without all of the spice.

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

Time travel romance. Releases September 16th

Tess and Hugh can’t stand each other. Both actors are starring in a film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. After an onset accident involving a heater and a puddle of water they are transported back in time to the year 1815. There Hugh takes on the persona of an ancestor who was killed during the war and Tess is now a widow who becomes Hugh’s fiancé.

What follows is a sweet, hilarious, and beautiful love story of 2 modern people trying to exist in the past while also trying to find a way back to the present.

I felt like I had traveled back in time to 1815 with Tess & Hugh. The world building is amazing. The characters leap off the page. I especially like Hugh’s great+ grandfather George he is too fun.
There’s also a ball scene and one where they roll down a hill.

I loved this book so much. If you are a fan of Austen or the show Bridgerton you will love this book.

This was a charming, Regency era time travel. While the ending was quite predictable and Hugh annoyed me at first, I grew to like him over the course of the book. I wish the ending would’ve given us more- some correspondence from Aunt Fanny or a note from George. I liked Tess and enjoyed her relationships with the other women. Her mom’s illness was a nice cross to bear, I get tired of dealing with romance novels using the ex as the emotional baggage. Overall, would recommend!

The Austen Affair is an absolute treat from start to finish! With a clever premise and sparkling wit, this debut blends Regency romance with modern hilarity in the most satisfying way. Tess and Hugh’s enemies-to-lovers journey is full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of chaos. The time-travel twist adds a fresh and playful layer to this love letter to Jane Austen and her world. If you're a fan of romantic comedies, witty banter, or period drama with a twist, this book will sweep you off your feet—breeches and all!

I was so happy I was approved for this one because I am a huge Austen lover and everything about this screams for me. While some parts drug on and didn’t feel cohesive I had such a good time

2.5⭐️ rounded down.

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

While the Austen Affair had some fun moments, I didn’t love it.

I was intrigued to read this because the plot sounded creative and fun! Two rival costars filming Northanger Abbey have to use their acting skills to survive in the actual regency period! But the details weren’t actually very creative at all, or very well thought out? They got sent back in time because they were zapped by an electrical wire? And then to come home to the exact place in time and space, all they have to do is get zapped again? That’s literally all there is to it.

The romance was sweet but it lacked development - they hated each other and then all of a sudden they didn’t. Their feelings kind of came out of the blue to me and the payoff didn’t feel earned. It also came too quickly.

One of the highlights was a certain unexpected cameo that was a welcome surprise. But to be honest mostly everything else that happened between the 10 and 80% mark dragged and felt inconsequential to the plot. I think if more effort had been put into the time travel details and if it had been paced better, this might have been more successful.