Oh I ate this UP! Forced proximity, fake relationship, time travel, JANE AUSTEN!!! It's like someone put my brain into a machine to print my favorite book. And Northanger Abbey appreciation? Everyone should be picking this debut up expeditiously.

This concept soared because it was clear that Madeline Bell genuinely loves Jane Austen and adjacent works. Strong prose, amazing character development. and an ensemble that felt developed enough to justify their inclusion. I really enjoyed all of the references to Austen's works. Most of all, I enjoyed how well the main characters communicated. I've been feeling a little fatigued at miscommunication as a trope in romance, so it was beyond refreshing to see a healthy dynamic on page - it made it make sense for them to go from feuding to lovers. Tess and High were so funny and memorable, and I really felt for both of them as they navigated the struggles that come with living (time travel aside).

Recommended for fans of excellent boiled potatoes, unconventional regency romance, and wickedly smart, funny writing.

Two actors filming an Austen adaptation get travelled through time back to Austen’s England. This was so witty, heartfelt, and cozy. I laughed out loud many times and just ate up the references and parallels. And the romance? It was perfect. I thought this would book would be very silly gong. Into it and just a good palate cleanser- which it does have its silly moments and is a good palate cleanser- but it stands on its own well even if you aren’t a Jane Austen fan (but like what are you doing here if you’re not?) and it wasn’t too cheesy or anything. Will definitely be buying this when it releases and recommending to others.

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!

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!

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 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.

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.

I loved this, and I think anyone who genuinely appreciates Jane Austen will as well. This was such a fun homage to all of Austen’s works, and to the romance genre in general. I’m sure even I didn’t catch all of the references and quotes, and I’ve read all of the books at least twice and have seen most of the adaptations. Every reference made me smile, and I got just as much enjoyment out of the original storylines and characters as well.

That said, this is clearly intended to be a modern rom-com that just so happens to take partial place in the regency era. In some respects, it walks the line between historical and contemporary romance which can make it feel a little disjointed. It’s also cheesy, and the main characters can slip into a bit of one-dimension sometimes. I ultimately didn’t mind because I loved the characters and story so much, but I can see where this won’t be for everyone.

I could not put this down, I'm so elated and sad that it's over. I absolutely love Jane Austin, all things British, and period dramas with angst. Can't wait to go back to London in the Winter, hopefully, I can go back in time too!

Hugh Balfour and Tess Bright have so much going on in their personal lives that they've closed themselves off in their own way. Hugh seems arrogant, OCD, and a huge grump, while Tess is the sunshine—except she's also working through the loss of her favorite person in the world, her mother. Following a confrontation on set while filming an adaptation of Northanger Abbey, Hugh and Tess find themselves unexpectedly thrown back 200 years into the Regency era.

I truly enjoyed their relationship and how their love for each other developed so profoundly over time. I only wish it had been longer; the ending felt a bit hurried, and I would have loved to see more of their journey together. Reading this was such a delight, and I can't wait for others to experience it when it releases in September.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc—loved it so much!

This book put me in best mood! It had magical elements. It had banter. It was swoony. It made me cry.It made me laugh! And left me smiling!
Enemies to lovers. Two people thrown together trying work as a team. Learning about each other and growing as people. The way they show up for each other was perfection!
I am glad I got to share their journey.

I am absolutely the target audience for this book and it was delightful. I loved the references to Jane Austen's works and how true to the heart of what endures in her works that this story was. I found the characters compelling, their chemistry was lovely, and I tore through this book!

Oh my goodness I love this book so much! Madeline Bell has written such a charming Austen inspired novel following Tess and Hugh, actors in a new adaptation of Northanger Abbey that through a freak accident end up in Austen era England. The enemies to lovers trope really shines when the two actors who don’t get along on set all of a sudden have to lean on each other to figure out regency era England. Also to add the cherry on top of the cake, Hugh is mistaken for his ancestor and they must continue the charade in his family’s home. The way the two characters come together and look out for each other while peeling back the layers of each of their personalties made me absolutely melt and the discussions of grief were incredibly powerful. This novel is definitely my new favorite book of the year.

I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, so this story appealed to me from the moment I saw it, and I was not disappointed. The Austen Affair is a fabulous read! It’s charming, funny, emotional, and wonderfully romantic. I adored everything about it: the characters, the time travel twist, the Regency setting, the Austen references, and the absolutely swoon-worthy romance that unfolds with the perfect amount of angst, romance, and humor.

The story follows two actors, Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour, who are cast as the leads in a Jane Austen adaptation. An on-set accident sends them spiraling back 200 years into the Regency period, where they have to figure out how to survive (and possibly get home) while keeping their wits—and reputations—intact. What follows is hilarious, heartfelt, and, at times, bittersweet, with an emotional depth I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved.

Tess is such a fun and relatable protagonist with an amazing personality. She’s sharp, big-hearted, and quick-witted, even when she’s floundering in a world that expects her to be meek and demure. Her sense of humor is a major highlight of the story, and I laughed out loud more than once at her internal monologues and clever quips. At the same time, there’s a vulnerability to her that made me really connect with her, especially in how she navigates grief and her longing to honor her mother’s memory. As a fellow motherless daughter, I so understood her feelings.

And then there’s Hugh. Love him!! Quiet and serious, he starts out as a bit of a mystery and a total grump who is stoic and clearly not thrilled to be stuck with Tess. But as the story unfolds, we see his deeper layers. His loyalty, protectiveness, deep love for his family, dry humor, and his simmering emotional intensity just melted me, as did some of the swoon-worthy things he declared to Tess.

Hugh is the perfect complement to Tess in an opposites attract, introvert/extrovert kind of way. They have such amazing chemistry, and I love how their contentious relationship changes and blooms into something truly beautiful. They develop an ease with each other as they quickly learn to trust and support each other is so lovely. They have so many touching and funny conversations (like laugh out loud, left a smile on my face funny), and I love their banter too. Their relationship goes from superficial and unpleasant to a deep and lasting love, and it was fantastic!

I also have to shout out George, Hugh’s younger brother, who stole every scene he was in. He’s mischievous, clever, and delightfully dramatic in the best way. His interactions with Tess, Hugh, and the other characters were so charming and added another layer of warmth and humor to the story. Beyond the romance and the laughs, the book touches on themes of grief, self-worth, and the courage it takes to embrace change. Both Tess and Hugh are navigating their own insecurities and disappointments, and it was really moving to watch them find strength in themselves and each other.

The Austen Affair is fun and flirty, emotionally rich, full of clever Austen nods, and has such lovely messages about finding connection, embracing vulnerability, and rewriting your own story. There’s even a fantastic cameo that made me squeal just as much as Tess did. 😂 Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This is such a fun book! Yes, I'm an Austen fan but you don't need to be a fan to enjoy this trip-through-time read. I love the idea of time travel books but I have often been disappointed by what I have read. either they were just "off" somehow or they didn't come up to expectations. Not so this book. It is such an easy fun book that I will suggest it to all my friends for their summer beach read. It is perfect for just losing yourself in a happy book.

Jane Austin themed…enemies to lovers…yes, please! This is the best book I have read this year! As a huge Jane Austen fan, this book had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole way through. I couldn’t put it down! The characters are fantastic and the setting was great. I will be telling EVERYONE I know about this book.

This book is a love story to us Jane Austen fans and it’s great! Tess and Hugh are actors working on a Northanger Abbey film adaptation. Unfortunately, they do not get along and end up have a big fight on set that ends up in a freak accident. This accident time travels them back 200 years to the days of Jane Austen. Tess, a grieving sunshine must work with Hugh’s grumpy stoic to navigate the situation and find a way home. Along the way, they end up learning more about each other and helping overcome personal issues. There are many Austen references, and the characters are nice Austenesque homages. There is a brief non-descriptive open door scene that is easy to pass over if you would rather. I recommend checking this one out.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Two feuding co-stars quarrel on the set of Northanger Abbey and break the space time continuum when they’re struck by lightning and get zippity-zapped back to 1815 Hampshire. Tess the hot mess express spills on her costumes and has crap taste in men. The role of Catherine Moreland is her last shot at both career redemption and honoring her Austen-obsessed, dearly departed mother. Hugh is a RADA graduate with a stiff upper lip and a stick up his arse. He either thinks Tess improbably stupid, or perhaps he’s just a typical guy who says the wrong thing all the time.

To return to the future from whence they came, they stage a fake engagement and embark on a mission to get electrocuted once more. The journey of enemies to slow burn to lovers peaks at a ball, so they Irish goodbye it to knock boots in a foyer where his cock springs to attention before it slides in like butter. Shall lightning indeed strike twice? Might a love improbable withstand the tempests of time itself? I dare not think to say.

I cried two times and misted a third because the Jane vibes were really vibing. When I say “I’m very fond of walking” and no one gets it, I shall turn to this book for solace therein.

I've always been a fan of the time travelling storyline and this one hit the mark because it's Jane Austen - my absolute favorite. The idea of a struggling actress costarring with a jerk in an Austen movie adaption just makes for good reading. The enemies to lovers trope always works for me but for both of them to time slip into in the Austen time period together is just too good. Their efforts to go back to their own time period creates a truce so they can work together to make it back home. Their efforts to fit into the time period is just gold. They had to learn to trust each other, and from that romance blooms. The references to Austen, Austen tribute books and contemporary romances was a nice touch. It's hard to believe this was a debut novel! There were a few clunky bits but dont' want to ruin it for others. Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this early look. Opinions are my own.

This was a phenomenal read, five out of five stars! Honestly no notes or criticisms. The characters are well rounded and have layered connective experiences. The plot is equal parts light as it is daring, and the time travel niche trope is a particular favorite of mine. I appreciated the addition of Jane Austen herself and the name drop influences of janes navel characters ,as well as, the dynamic family lore. Madeline bell wrote a fantastic novel.

The Austen Affair - Madeline Bell

10/10

This book is a beau. It's soul touching, heartwarming. Sugar spice everything nice. We have a quirky whimsical delusional female lead meeting a rule abiding male lead. It's enemies to lovers, it's romcom fantasy, it's Jane Austen (oh the character references) but most importantly it's the plot, it's the characters and their evolution as people. It's understanding. I absolutely would love to buy this, and I think you should too.

First, thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin (publisher), and Madeline Bell for the advanced copy of The Austen Affair. This will be available September 2025.

Okay, now that that’s done, let’s talk about how wonderful this book was! To be clear, to truly LOVE this book, I think you need to be an Austenite. If you don’t love Jane, you will miss many of the references. However, don’t let that stop you from indulging in this delicious enemies-to-lovers TIME TRAVEL rom-com. Yes. TIME TRAVEL. When I read the synopsis of this book I legitimately squealed. What Austen loving girl doesn’t fantasize about being dropped in the middle of the Regency period? I know I do. I mean, come on! With that said, I’m giving this 5 stars because it speaks to my Austen loving heart. I adored it. Madeline made the characters come to life and I could picture it all so clearly in my head. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Tess Bright is a hopeless romantic that grew up on all things Jane Austen. Hugh Balfour grew up…rigid. Paired together as co-stars in a movie adaptation of Northanger Abbey, the two actors couldn’t be more polar opposites. Thrown together by a casting director but zapped back in time by an electrical mishap, the two have to find a way to return from 19th century Hampshire to 2025 without completely disrupting the past and destroying the future. Among the way, they find themselves seeing eye-to-eye and finding that first impressions are often colored by our own insecurities.

Enemies to lovers, Jane Austen, time travel and co-stars! What more do you need. I loved the banter, references, regency vibes and a couple that actually communicates.

Ugh. I loved this book. Two enemy costars on the set of a Northanger Abbey adaptation get transported back to the regency era?! Yes, please. As a die hard Jane Austen fan, this was just I needed. You can tell the author did her research and really worked hard to show appreciation for Austen works! A fun, realistic love story that was so entertaining and enjoyable!

This was so much fun! I’ll basically read anything regency or Jane Austen and this totally delivered.

Regency
Forced proximity.
Enemies to lovers.
Jane Austen references
Time travel?!?!

A fun romp perfect for any Jane Austen fan. Highly recommend!

Absolutely delightful rom-com whether you're a Jane Austen fan or not! Mix in a little time travel, quirky characters and old school yearning (think Mr. Darcy's hand flex 🤤)... and you have a story that makes you both swoon and giggle out loud.
4.5*

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I ate this up!! It was so well-written and interesting, and the characters were extremely likable. It was so cozy! Eagerly awaiting the author’s next release, and I would love to see another one with a similar premise of going back in time.