The Austen Affair
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the digital review copy and the opportunity to be an early reader. This one hit shelves on September 16th.
Tess Bright grew up on all things Austen. Her mother was always reading Jane Austen’s works and had adaptations on the television. Now that Tess is grown, she’s landed her dream job as Catherine in an adaptation of Northanger Abbey. If only her mother were alive to see it. Tess’s co-star, Hugh Balfour is as stuffy as they come— talented, acclaimed, and a Method actor who wants nothing to do with her cheerful demeanor. When they’re electrocuted and transported to the Regency era, Hugh and Tess must team up to find some way back to their 21st century lives.
This book was so fun and suited my tastes so well. I love a time travel element, and seeing Hugh and Tess be transported not only to Regency times, but to Hugh’s actual ancestral home was a wonderful twist. Here are a few of the other things I loved about this one:
anachronistic references
opposites attract
enemies to lovers (and without the “I always actually loved/was attracted to you” thing)
a Jane Austen cameo?!
literary references
humor with heart
family tenderness
This one also had the strong storyline of losing a parent. It drew the characters together into something deeper than the average zippy rom-com and made the connection and growth between Tess and Hugh more believable and more than physical.
My only qualm, and it’s a small one, was that there was a lot of strong language in this one. I usually am not so taken aback by that, but I think the contrast between Tess’s use of profanity and Hugh’s lack of it made this more pronounced (I think that was also the point though! 😂).
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and also feel inspired to go pick up the Jane Austen works I haven’t read before (Northanger Abbey and Lady Susan).
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🌶️ This book contained one open-door on-page romance scene in chapter 27. There was also a bit of innuendo and longing throughout.
