I unfortunately forgot to download the e-book on my kindle before it was archived and/or lost interest in the book because it’s been on my tbr for way too long, so I wasn’t able to read and review it (on time). Since I Must give a star rating, I’ve given it 3 stars to stay neutral/in the middle. Sorry to the publisher for not having gotten around to actually read it.

I was excited about this book because I do love classics like Jane Austen but this missed the mark for me. I just didn’t connect to the characters.

It was cute but not great. I really liked the setting of a house where people can come pretend to be characters. I enjoyed that the people can participate as much or as little as they want in the dress up fun, which I felt made it more realistic. The side characters were all great and I enjoyed hanging out with them. The main character was okay in the first 1/2 but then became annoying at the end where there's a misunderstanding so she leaves in a rush and actually quits her job and if she had just talked it out, it would be resolved. It felt too much like a trope from something that isn't well crafted. Her friend was horrible but forgiven way too fast. That was a bit off-putting. I would recommend it to fans of Austen knock-offs and perhaps someone looking for a fluffy read, but not to just anyone.

The characters in this book were incredibly annoying. They were all not likeable at all. Isabel was manipulative and a bad friend. She was incredibly toxic. And Mary.... was fucking stupid. For a woman in STEM, she really couldn't think through her decisions. And Nathan was annoying. The plot was barely there and I really didn't enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hate giving 2-star reviews, but nothing about the plot nor the characters seemed remotely probable or realistic.

📚💛💚An author whose second book, The Austen Escape I picked immediately after reading the first one The Bronte Plot that was an equally good read. Though this review is a long time coming. Hope to keep the reviews coming.

📚💚💛 I first read The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay a couple of years ago and enjoyed the different, layered, realistic story. When I saw The Austen Escape I knew I had to read and requested a copy from Netgalley.

📚💚💛 Mary Davies is devoted to her work and is an electric engineer who is loved at her workplace. Yet her current project is shelved and she needs to rethink her choices.

📚💚💛 Isabel is her childhood friend and she convinces her to go on a vacation with her to experience an ‘Austen holiday’ at Bath. Despite her reservations, she agrees but things unspool when Isabel starts forgetting who she is and Mary needs to step in.

📚💚💛 Nathan is a consultant at Mary’s office and is unaware that Mary is crushing on him. She also is so unsure during their interactions that he thinks she isn’t interested in him. Though like the smart man he is, he is patient and managed to win the girl and floor the fellow vacationers as well.

📚💚💛For me, the moment when Mary solves the technical issue at work while out for her run was the cherry on the cake! I loved the connection it made with her work and her personal life. The book ties in the conflict and grudges and makes the characters human and real.


📚💚💛 I enjoyed The Austen Escape with the beautiful house at Bath and classic references, the mix of the modern and Victorian eras. Modern-day science and technology mingling with the English countryside made for a layered read.
I love the images she creates, the peep into an era of rich culture and depth. Visiting Bath is on my bucket list. Paris is done so UK and Ireland are next. Just waiting for the world to heal and open up.


📚💚💛 The Austen Escape is a love story unfolding under the classic grey English skies and resplendent countryside. The beautiful indoors and outdoors described added to the experience of reading. I look forward to reading her other books soon.


📚💚💛 If you are a fan of the Victorian era and Jane Austen then her books are perfect for a visit to the times and life of Jane Austen.


#KatherineReay books transport me to the time I was studying English Literature and bring it all alive with so much vibrancy. A glimpse into the #classicfiction in a modern setting.

📚💚💛 The Austen Escape with its sweet ending and realistic issues made for a good read, a different read.

As the reader progresses through Reay's latest, the venture into Austen's world becomes increasingly magical. This is not a retelling of Austen's tales through modern eyes. It is placing present-day characters into those stories and telling them through a different focus. Reay's exquisite phrasing will resonate with readers and provide much fodder for pondering. At times, the portions of the book dealing with electrical engineering and Mary's job get a little complex and drag the pace slightly. The romance storyline is not as meaningful as is the one dealing with Isabel and Mary's friendship and their various family relationships. Overall, this is a beautifully written novel and one to be savored and enjoyed.
Mary Davies is an engineer for a startup design company. She likes the stability of her life and is stymied when a project she is working on is stuck. Against her better judgment, she accepts a trip to accompany her childhood best friend Isabel to Bath, England, so that Isabel can complete her doctoral thesis on Jane Austen. They arrive at an English manor house for a complete immersion into Austen's books and culture — complete with costumes, dialogue, games and parties. Mary begins to get into the swing of things, but it soon becomes apparent that something is not quite right with Isabel, and Mary must decide what to do about her friend, as well as her future

The idea behind the novel is far more complex and well-thought about than the real execution is.
The authoress obviously loves Jane Austen and admires her gentle humour and sharp wit. And Ms Reay has many interesting thoughts and observations to share about the Austen's world and the original, colourful characters that inhabite it.

Also, the setup has the spark of a genius. The escapist stay in the Austen-like mansion in England? Her best friends Isabel's mental health problems that reveal some origins of their insecurities? The recognition of female technical talent and intellect and the exploration of the worlds of the seemingly quiet, unassuming ones?
All so interesting!
But unfortunately, it comes out flatly. This is mostly because of Mary's character, who really never goes through the real catharsis and whose insecurities should really be addressed more strongly. I take it that the authoress loves this character, so she was not willing to let her go through the any more hardships. But one needs to face themselves in the mirror. And Mary is deeply insecure - take what the phone call in the last chapters did to her and her relations at the end. Only the very insecure ones react with such strong flights without simple trust, confrontation, asking around. Yet, by some "deus et machina" subplots, all is well at the end for Mary.
That's why second character Isabel is much more colourful. She has more difficult background than Mary, more character faults - and she faces much more music. Which is good in my opinion, because her breakdown brings her gift of deserved maturity.

The love stories here are not interesting to me here, unfortunately. The guys really should be more complex than just dashing heroes whom can do no wrong and whom totally get their insecure heroines.

Yet, I am reluctant to leave this multi-faceted, well-loved Austen world. This says much, too.

Reay's books are always a fun read and add in an element of classics. Not too much drama and always a satisfying conclusion!

This isn't just for Austen fans, although it helps to know the canon. It's fun, humorous but also heartfelt story.

This was a cute read, but it honestly wasn't ask that interesting. I think I've realized that books like these aren't my favorite.

If you enjoy Katherine Reay’s fascination with rare books and antiquities in The Bronte Plot and insight into friendship in Lizzy and Jane, you’ll want to add The Austen Escape to your to-read list for a unique look at difficult friendships.

I love Jane Austen inspired books but this, while a cute read, was lacking for me. The writing was not paced well and her characters weren't likable, IMO. This author has other simliar books in the series so I might pick one of them up.

A little slow-starting, this book did hold my interest to the very end. I appreciate the author's colorful and beautiful descriptions that are so vivid, it feels like I am part of the story.

I love all things Austen. This is the third Austen-themed book I have read by this author and, once again, she did not disappoint. I like the author’s writing style. Her characters are always appealing and well-developed. This was a fun read and a sweet romance.

Sit down, grab some tea because it is cold outside and when anyone discusses Austen it is always better to have tea in hand.

I read this book in about a day and a half. Katherine Reay's "The Austen Escape" is a charming romance novel set in modern times. Isabel and Mary have been friends since childhood, but things have been strained in their relationship as they've grown into adulthood. Mary took a job working in a flourishing tech job while Isabel is working on her doctoral thesis on Jane Austen.

Isabel's father is angry that is taking her so long to finish her degree, so he pays for Mary and Isabel to go to a two-week immersion into Jane Austen's world in an old manor house in England. There, the guests are fitted with the proper attire and encouraged to take on the roles of someone from Austen's novels.

Unfortunately, Isabel suffers a relapse a sort of hysteria while there, and truly believes she is Emma from the novel. A kind, gentle war veteran named Grant takes special care for Isabel while Mary contacts Isabel's old doctors to figure out what to do.

As one would expect from any Jane Austen novel, Reay introduces confusion, miscommunication and more into her book. I liked it for its romance parts and history, as Reay has done her work. My only complaint is that the book is sort of slow to start, and I almost put it down because of it. I'm glad I didn't, but the beginning wasn't a real attention grabber.

Really enjoyed this story. I read some of the classics at school and watch all the BBC remakes so this was a fun book to read! I liked the references to the Jane Austen novels which made me want to read them all again. I thought this was engaging and really well written - I'm going to download some more of Katherine Reays books to see what I've been missing!

I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed this more if I was an avid fan of Austen and her works.

The story was interesting, and I liked its setting. But I felt like there were a lot of plots happening at once, and some of it didn’t make sense.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

I love anything Jane Austen related. I have read everything she wrote multiple times. So, I was very excited to read and review this book. It was a pleasant enough read but it certainly was not Jane Austen style or related to Jane Austen in any real way except to use settings such as Bath.

I would like to thank netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't get into this at all.