Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this arc of The Austen Affair.

When going into this, I was just excited to read something related to Jane Austen, since I’ve been meaning to dig more into her novels. This novel was beyond anything I had imagined. It was such a wonderful, deep,swoonworthy and fun experience.

First, let’s talk about how we get to know our two main characters. Tess and Hugh, they’re co-stars of a film that is based on a Jane Austen Novel. They don’t quite get along and have opinions about each other that are very strong. Hugh is very stoic, strict and needs everything to be a certain way for him to feel comfortable. While Tess, is filled with so much light and warmth even though she’s suffering from the loss of her mother, who was a huge Jane Austen fan. Through their bickering, they are thrown back 200 years.

With their time in the past we see both characters develop new feelings, new appreciation and find some happiness in this new time period while also falling for each other. It’s quite beautiful and is something I think so many people will eat up as I did. I’m still so giddy and happy from reading this novel. It’s not like anything I’ve read before and is definitely one of my top reads of this year.

You will find lessons, good laughs, family bonding and so much more in this novel. It’s truly so special! 10/10 recommend!

“My dear, no one can be trusted with their own heart. That is why we give them to others for safekeeping.”
I loved this book. Of course I did; it’s Austen. And it’s Austen done well. With likable characters, an intriguing plot, and the most romantic setting, An Austen Affair will you sweep you away like Wickham did Lydia, but honorably of course. I particularly enjoyed the references to real events and pop culture, especially when the main character Tess describes her excitement when receiving the American Girl doll Felicity (which I also had a child). Overall, well-written and engaging!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Picked this one up on a whim. I have a love/hate relationship with Austen retellings some are good. And some not so much. I wouldn’t call this bad as the first chapter was enough to keep me reading and I liked the tone. I did think that there was an overuse of pop culture references that didn’t really add much to the story. I didn’t make it far past the point where they end up in the past. The believability fell apart for me.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the arc)

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers, and Madeline Bell for this ARC of The Austin Affair!

This book was an absolute delight to read! The cover caught my eye and when I read the description, I knew I would really end up liking this book! Once I started reading I could not put this book down. I’ll definitely be buying a hard copy when it’s out.

Madeline Bell's *The Austen Affair* is a charming blend of modern romance and Regency-era adventure. The story follows Tess Bright, a spirited actress, and Hugh Balfour, her uptight co-star, who are unexpectedly transported back to Jane Austen's time during the filming of a *Northanger Abbey* adaptation. Their journey through the 19th century is filled with witty banter, evolving chemistry, and heartfelt moments.

Bell masterfully weaves Austenian elements into a contemporary narrative, creating a tale that's both humorous and emotionally resonant. The dynamic between Tess and Hugh evolves naturally, offering readers a satisfying enemies-to-lovers arc. Additionally, the novel touches on themes of grief and personal growth, adding depth to the romantic storyline.

For fans of Jane Austen, time-travel tales, or romantic comedies with substance, *The Austen Affair* is a must-read. It's a heartfelt homage to Austen's legacy, wrapped in a fresh and engaging package.

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am usually not a fan of modern romance, but I have always loved Jane Austen (I prefer the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, for the record.)
The story is an enemies to lovers trope, with a dash of time travel. The character development evolves in a very natural way, with the leads learning about themselves at the same time they learn more about each other. Grief plays a large part of the main characters respective evolutions, and their different yet understandable viewpoints on how to move forward, or to stay in the nostalgia. The secondary characters are also enjoyable to learn about, and the thread of family ties runs deep and is genuine.
There are moments of humor, and the female lead is very much Austen-esque, with a 21st century wariness that plays well in the Regency Era. Her inner and outer dialogue got more than a few audible laughs out of me.
I recommend this novel to romance lovers, lovers of the time period, and even if you aren't familiar with Jane Austen and her works, you will quickly be caught up with references that don't talk down to you. And if you are dealing with grief and loss, the book has moments where you will feel understood, no matter how you grieve. Please grab a copy when it comes out in September 2025!

I really liked this book. It was a page turner that I found difficult to put down. A witty, enemy to lovers romance with loveable characters set in the Regency era. Two modern day actors get electrocuted in the middle of an argument and find themselves back 200 years. Imagine waking up in the time of your favourite books and meeting your literary hero, Jane Austen.
I loved the banter between Tess and Hugh, it was so well written. However, though it is low spice, the descriptive words used during that particular scene were a little strange in my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Austen Affair is an absolute dream for not just those of us who love Jane Austen and the time travel concept but those who love a light romance with meaningful depth to their characters.

Tess Bright is on the cusp of her acting career either falling off a cliff or going somewhere truly fulfilling when she stars in Northanger Abby, the least exposed in media of Jane Austen’s novels. It’s personal for Tess, as her recently departed Mother loved the book. Knowing her success depends on the chemistry between her and lauded actor Hugh Balfour, it’s looking like disaster as he ices her out (and grapples with his own personal struggles). Time travel to the possible rescue as the two are transported in time to when Jane Austen lived and have to both trick the locals along with figuring a way back.

This book isn’t just sweet but equally filled with small thrills of Tess and Hugh trying to fit in and figure out the entanglements around them. Jane Austen’s books are understandably a popular source of inspiration for many books but this one stands out not as a remake but a nod for romance fans.

⚝ ꒰ 3/5 stars ꒱ ♡

Thank you NetGalley, Madeline Bell & St. Martins Press for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Calling all my Jane Austen lovers, you're going to want to read this. Two feuding co-stars travel back in time to the regency period and must set their previous feelings toward each other aside to get back home. A fun, fast-paced, historical romance that explores the beauty of second-chances and love across time.

I loved the Austen references throughout this book and the overall setting of this book. It kept me entertained. I didn’t really connect with these characters and the love story didn’t make me swoon as much as I’d hoped. The pacing sometimes just rushed you through to the next plot point.

Overall I feel Austen fans will enjoy this lighthearted story with a cute romance.

The Austen Affair is set to be published September 16, 2025.

okay this might be long because i have so many thoughts

to start, i went on a whole hero’s journey deciding whether I wanted to request this arc in the first place because despite loving jane austen myself, i have a huge ick for jane austen references in contemporary romances, particularly because of the air of “oh its so sexy he knows how to read” that usually surrounds it so that was my biggest concern going in

i will say, there was a bit of a learning curve because the jane austen references felt quite shoed-in almost the entire time (coupled with a reveal that i won’t spoil but i will say i objectively hated…i don’t think theres a way it couldve been written in which i would not have hated it) but personally, the most jarring was the pop culture references which I usually am not one to be put off by any sense of Contemporary Topic in my Contemporary Romance but the first 50% of the book felt like such a drag in particular because of the way the references kept taking me out of the story

then there’s the matter of the fmc, tess (who i will say had a decent arc regarding her grief which i enjoyed) but a lot of her characterization outside of that felt…messy for lack of a better word (sorry girl!) like the fact that her immediate reaction to being sent 200 years in the past is to be happy and cheerful about it genuinely made me side eye both the character and the author (not to mention certain word choices re: regency etiquette just made me really roll my eyes and wonder “and what do you mean by that..?”)

also, the spice/smut (whatever you want to call it) was unfortunately really bad, i am usually a huge supporter of open door romances bc I feel like some romances can feel clipped with the tension being too sporadic to pinpoint but like in this case, i actually totally changed my mind and think if this had been a closed door romance, i might have in fact loved it significantly more…

that being said i was in a huge slump right before reading this and the writing style (despite all the hang ups i had, and there were plenty) was pretty decent and therefore easy to get through quickly, and I really did enjoy tess’s inner monologue at all the points where it wasn’t veering towards any of the aforementioned hangups, and though i wasn’t entirely sold on tess and hugh’s messy romance, i did have a decent enough time that i didn’t dnf so that’s a win!


thank you so much to netgalley and st martin’s press for this arc to review!

This was very cute. I was only familiar with Pride and Prejudice going in and at about 25% I stopped to watch Emma and having that extra context helped me enjoy it even more.

Goodreads
10 May 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7552080573

“Because I’ve had a revelation, and that revelation is: Fuck Hugh Balfour. (No, not like that.) But fuck him, am I right?”

Classic enemies to lovers trope with a fun twist on regency era. The beginning is so funny and rom-com-esque. There is a point where she starts losing me as a huge Jane Austen fan, and that is how vulgar she is comparatively (see quote). Another example is that there is SO much pining in this book, to the extent of implied sexual release that you would NEVER read in an Austen novel. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, this book is fun and fantasy all wrapped in romance. Unfortunately, it’s not rated G like Jane Austen (yes there are sex scenes) while at the same time the writing is not as mature. A lot of the character development involves anxiety and being downright emotional wrecks. I personally didn’t like that at all. The male lead, Hugh, starts off being an attractive guy, but with all his baggage and weepiness, I’m put off. He does gain allure when he fights other guys, so maybe it evens out? (Whisper: I think not.) There is a fair bit of “the universe did this”, “this was meant to be by the universe”, “my dead mom is the higher power” nonsense. But it’s easy enough to skip through. Overall, fun read and I loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

I love, love, LOVE this book! What an excellent piece by Madeline Bell!

Tess Bright is cheeky and clever and real. Hugh Balfour is the dreamy male lead Jane Austen fans adore as he morphs from rigid societal bore to loving partner. I love how odes to Austen’s masterpiece works are skillfully woven throughout The Austen Affair, adding so much depth and value to the storyline as Austen’s texts and their film adaptations are repeatedly brought to mind to support and further elaborate on the details of a scene, allowing you to visualize and experience everything so richly. Truly, this book is incredible and is one I cannot wait to share with loved ones!

I really liked this book, until the ending. The chemistry between the characters was great. I liked the side characters. Loved the setting and all
Of the Austen references. Then I blinked and the end happened. But I still liked it overall!

I don’t hand out fives like candy, but I ….daresay… Madeline Bell can take the entire candy bowl. This was so fun. You add time travel, enemies to slow burn lovers, history, banter, and Austen references in this chefs kiss time travel romantic romp. Thank you for such a fun adventure.

I picked up the book because it just sounded like such a fun quick read. And that is exactly what it was. Synopsis honestly gives you a lot of this story. So if you’re going in, hoping it’s going to have a lot unexpected moments, you’ll be disappointed. In the beginning, I found both characters to be slightly annoying however they grew both has characters and on me. Sometimes the way that the author wrote the romantic scenes kind of threw me for a loop and ultimately pulled me out of the story.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again. Give it a try!

4.5 stars
The Austen Affair was an absolute delight! I loved the classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic—sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a slow-burn romance that had me hooked. The time travel twist, taking us back to Austen’s era, was charming and so well done. It felt like stepping into one of her novels, with all the elegance and emotional depth you’d expect. Adorable, heartfelt, and full of swoony moments—I didn’t want it to end!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This was a really fun and easy read. All the regency of an Austen novel with modern day attitude and snark. Storyline flowed nicely and the characters were relatable. It was fun to see how the main characters had to adapt to the time frame they ended up in without completely messing up their own timeline. Also loved the Jane Austen cameo. Highly recommend!