Other reviewers have provided excellent plot synopses, and I will not repeat their efforts here.

Last year I read "The Bronte Plot," by the same author, and found it interesting and unusual. So when this one came along, I was intrigued and interested by the premise, and I picked it up free from NetGalley as an advance copy.

What an unusual book. Not your average run-of-the-mill romance. The heroine is a full-fledged geek, an engineer who makes strange and interesting gizmos for a living. When her baggage-laden friend drags her off to England for a Jane Austen costume getaway, the baggage starts coming to the surface, with alarming results.

I am not very familiar with Austen's work, so some of the quotations and inside jokes I am sure went straight over my head. This did not, however, diminish my enjoyment of this book in the least, so I would encourage anyone who might be hesitant to read this because they don't know all things Austen to go ahead and read it anyway.

Interestingly, although this book is published by a Christian publisher, either I missed something or there is almost nothing in it that could be deemed Christian content. To me that is not a bad thing, because it's a very good book, but if someone is looking for a sermon disguised as a novel, this isn't it.

I fell in love w/ Katherine Reay's work after reading her debut novel. I was so excited to read her latest publication. I loved it....every single word of it. I have highly recommended THE AUSTEN ESCAPE to everyone. Thank you for the opportunity of reading...and sharing...this fabulous story.

I was really pleased that I tried out a different type of novel than my standard foray. “The Austen Escape” was cleverly written and I was very pleasantly surprised by the ability of the author to interweave so many characters from Jane Austen into a modern story.
Mary works as an engineer for a company called WATT. She is currently being challenged by her boss, Karen, who she fears is going to fire her but she finds support from Nathan, who she is very attracted to. Mary finds herself heading to Bath, England, to meet up with her friend Isabel, despite all the issues at work. Soon after arriving, Isabel’s mental health is in question and Mary needs to step into support her.
The beauty of this novel was in the exploration of friendship and how trust can quite easily be broken. The author has done a magnificent job of highlighting the frailties of friendship, particularly with time spent apart. I found the snippets of various Austen books very creative and I found myself sneaking back to these books to see how they were originally used.

Katherine Reay has written another great book! Mary's dad talks her into going with her "best friend" Isabel to Bath, England for an Austen get-away where they dress up in that era of clothing and do everything to do with the past. She decides to go because she is sure she is going to loose her job and the guy she is interested in doesn't seem to notice her. Then things go wrong and she makes new discoveries about her friend, Nathan and herself.

There is a great cast of characters and the descriptions of the locations make me want to visit too. I really enjoy this book and can't wait for more from Katherine Reay.

'The Austen Escape' was brilliant! This was my first Katherine Reay book and I couldn't have been more enchanted by her mix of Jane Austen quotes and book situations mixed with a current and engaging story. The issues in the book were serious and relatable, and the characters well drawn so that those who were likeable were absolutely so, and those who weren't were easy to recognize. I am just hooked, and I've gone out and purchased more of the author's books. I can't recommend 'The Austen Escape' highly enough!

Mary escapes the dreary engineering office for a trip planned by her best friend. Reluctantly, she agrees to travel from Texas, "across the pond" to England. The gorgeous manor house they arrive at is intentionally set as a getaway into an Austen novel.. Mary isn't so sure she is ready to delve into the Austen character, especially after stifling her feelings about the loss of her mother. This novel illustrates our hopes and dreams of living the Austen life. Reay does a fantastic job of interweaving a modern day love story through the Austen"esque" setting.

Mary Davies and Isabel Dwyer are the original odd couple in many ways- friends since childhood Mary is an engineer in Austin Texas constantly inventing new technologies to make life easier while Isabel, originally from England and transplanted as a child, is a scholar finalizing her dissertation on Jane Austen's work.

At a loose end, as a project comes to a close without success, Mary allows herself to be convinced by Isabel to travel to Bath, England to be immersed for a fortnight in the world of Jane Austen. Unfortunately, not long after arriving at the beautiful mansion that they are to inhabit for the two weeks, Isabel suffers a loss of memory that causes her to believe that she truly is part of the world Jane Austen created through her books. Mary must go lightly if she is to help her friend return to the real world. Things become complicated when a man from their life in Austin comes to Bath due to a series of unexpected revelations and it becomes apparent that they both have a romantic investment in this gentleman.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book not just because of the Austen references (these are great if you have any familiarity with these books) but because of the nature of the relationships between all the main characters. There is a nice depth to how they treat each other and sufficient back story for the reader to become invested in the outcome of this particular adventure. I really like Mary's father - he is such a dad and a fun inventor in his own right - who wouldn't want a machine that dolls out skittles at regular intervals. The romantic elements of the book are gentle much like a good Austen novel and this is just the right amount of manipulation and machinations going on. I would absolutely say if you like your chick literature with an intelligent edge than this book is well worth delving into.

Have I ever told you guys what my favorite Katherine Reay book is? No? Maybe because it changes all the time...to whatever her newest book is! I'm telling y'all, they are all incredible, and all my favorites! Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of her books that you read. But today I'm going to tell you about her next best-seller (because I'm sure it will be!), The Austen Escape. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a trip back in time to Jane Austen's era? I didn't know it before, but, apparently, if you have enough money to spend, you can travel to England and visit places where you get to live like Elisabeth Bennett! (Anyone want to donate money for me to go??) Since most of us will probably never get a chance to go experience an Austen escape, this is the next-best thing.

Mary Davies has a great job as an engineer, good friends, a wonderful relationship with her dad, and a little crush on a consultant working at her firm. But she's hit a wall in her life. When her childhood friend, Isabel Dwyer, invites her to travel to England to stay at an Austen-inspired manor for two weeks, she balks. She and Isabel have always had a tumultuous relationship, and she's unsure about spending the time together. Mary's dad encourages her to go, so she gives in. The trip takes a turn when Isabel loses her memory and believes she is living in Regency-era Bath. Mary struggles to deal with Isabel's issues, as well as figure out what to do with her own life. When she's faced with what seems to be Isabel's ultimate betrayal, Mary is ready to give up and walk away from this friendship. But this escape has a lot of secrets and surprises in store, and the past may just be the key to unlocking Mary's future.

Like all of Katherine's previous books, I was unable to put this one down. Every part of this novel is captivating, from the characters and scenery, to the plot and dialogue. I could easily picture myself traveling to Bath, England, and experiencing all the things that Jane Austen wrote about in her novels. The costume descriptions alone were swoon-worthy. I could almost feel the soft fabrics in my hands. I loved the parts where Mary toured the rooms that featured so prominently in books like Northanger Abbey. It's hard for someone reading in the modern day to really understand what those rooms looked like, so it's nice to read descriptions of them. And can I just take one minute to gush about that gorgeous cover? If you have ever received a text from me, you know I'm a huge fan of emojis, and this cover would get all the heart eyes!

The Austen Escape is about so much more than a group of people talking and dressing like book characters. There are really deep characters here, and you have to really dig to understand their motives. At first, I hated Isabel. I couldn't understand why Mary would ever want to be friends with her. Honestly, when Isabel lost her memory, I wished Mary would just leave her in England and forget about her! But that would have made for a pretty short and boring book! Instead, she stayed and learned more about Isabel's past, and she began to understand why Isabel acted like she did. Mary remembered the reasons she was friends with Isabel to being with. Mary is a really great main character, and I admired her loyal friendship to someone who wasn't always loyal to her. I appreciate that Katherine writes about women who are strong and capable and smart, but still vulnerable and feminine. I think it's something that is often lost in today's society.

I thought there were a couple of important lessons to be learned in The Austen Escape. First, people aren't always what we think they are. Even if you've know a person for a very long time (most of their lives in Mary and Isabel's case), there are still things you may not know or understand about them. Many times people are dealing with pain in their past, or even in the present, that we don't know or understand. Sometimes we're quick to jump to conclusions before we know their story. I still have to say, though, that the pain Isabel caused for Mary wasn't justified. I have experienced friendships like that in the past, where a person hurts you for no reason other than to make themselves feel better. It's a really hard thing to experience. That brings me to the second lesson you can learn from this book. Sometimes you just have to let it all go before you can move forward. On the surface Mary's life seemed successful and mostly put-together. But underneath she was stuck, and afraid to change. She needed to confront issues in her past before she could get to the future she wanted. I think that's a message many of us can relate to. Who has ever let something in their past keep them from success? {insert raised hand here} For so many of us, like for Mary and Isabel, the way forward is to go back and deal with issues. Although I don't recommend that you go as far back in the past as Isabel did, sometimes we do need to look back and recognize what is holding us back, deal with it and move on.

Y'all know that I like to read a good romance novel. (Not THAT kind! Only the good, clean ones. Get your mind out of the gutter!) But recently I've found myself really liking books that challenge me and make me think. I like to be confronted with issues that make me ask, "How would I respond in this situation?" The Austen Escape definitely fits that bill. And it's great to read a book where I can learn things to apply to my own life. If you're looking for a different kind of book to read, I highly recommend The Austen Escape. It's a great read for fans of Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters, but if you've never read their books in your life, you'll still find something to love here.



I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and favorable review was not required.

This post contains affiliate links.

I love that you never know what you are going to get in a Katherine Reay book as far as storyline. But you do know that you will get good story. I loved this story. I mean, I really did. And it is not just because I am someone that loves Jane Austen. Her way of giving us story while addressing serious life issues without any type of feeling traumatized is a gift. 

For one, I would love to go on one of these excursions. It would be so much fun to be able to embrace that and experience it, but I, like the characters in the book, would need the internet to keep up at work. 

I loved how topics like disassociation, abusive parents, issues with relationships were all part of this novel, but not the focus of the novel. If you did not relate to it, you likely would miss it. Many people would totally not see it at all. But for those that need it, it was there. 

If you are an Austen lover, this has to be on your Christmas gift list. It is available from Amazon and wherever books are sold.

I read and enjoyed this author's earlier novel, "Dear Mr. Knightley," an update of Daddy Longlegs. Katherine Reay has created a niche, writing modern takes on classic novels. In "The Austen Escape," Mary and Isabel travel to Bath for a vacation that will give them a chance to enjoy life in Austen's time. Each chooses an Austen character to represent while away. There is also a romance set in a tech/engineering firm and in Bath along with backstories for other guests on the tour. This is a light, escapist read.

Katherine Reay presents another wonderful novel full of twists, long dresses, and Austen references. Mary has a great life, albeit a bit boring, when her friend invites her on a trip of a lifetime to experience the days of Austen’s popular novels. The girls set off for their adventure not expecting what is to come. Mary is a warm, although at times whiny, character who must grow to accept herself and into the woman she desires to be. The Austen Escape is a cute read that takes the reader on a journey of a lifetime.

The Austen Escape is a book for anyone who is a fan of Jane Austen, but it’s also super enjoyable for those of us who aren’t. In The Austen Escape you meet Mary and Isabel, friends since they were eight years old, now as adults they might have grown apart. Mary and Isabel get the opportunity to visit Bath and experience Austen’s world, but while there Mary discovers Isabel might have betrayed her friendship in more ways than one.
This book has a lot of Austen references, but does it in a way in which Jane Austen’s novels are not the main attraction, they complement the main story. What is great about this story is the fact that you don’t have to be an Austen fan to enjoy it. It’s a cute, romantic, interesting story. The female characters are complex and you understand how their relationship connects to the works of Austen and how it can be so complicated.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and was surprised by the conflict resolution of the characters. I think it would be a fun read for many people.

I really enjoyed The Austen Escape, even though I didn't expect to considering I'm not a huge Jane Austen fan. I liked the characters and I didn't expect some of the that happened in the story, so the story definitely held my attention and kept me reading.

I loved the setting and the whole character acting aspect. It made for some humorous moments. ;) The romance was okay -- I didn't particularly love or hate it.

All in all, an enjoyable read and if you've read other Reay books, I think you will like The Austen Escape.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

I do enjoy reading this story. However, if you have not read any of Jane Austen's books - then you should because it's hard to keep up with the story if you do not know the character in Austen's story. Since, the author refers a lot to Austen's characters. Besides that, I found this novel enjoyable! It makes me curious about what's next gonna happened!

Another beautifully crafted story of faith from Reay. Different from her others, but just as wonderful as the rest.

A wonderful book, though I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt.Overall though, I did enjoy the book and highly recommend it!

This story is certainly a bit different; Mary Davies is a talented engineer who is scared of acknowledging her true feelings concerning Nathan who currently acting as a consultant to WATT, the company that she works at. She is persuaded to take up her friend, Isabel Dwyer’s offer to accompany her to a trip of a lifetime. Recreating Jane Austin’s world within a manor house in Bath. They have had problems in their relationship but Mary decides that this trip may help sort them out.

The descriptions of the setting, characters and clothing help set the scene for the drama that unfolds once the friends arrive. I think the message we get from the story is that we get what we think we deserve. It definitely isn’t a simple retelling of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Entertaining read.

I loved, loved, loved this book! Yes, it's another Austen novel, but oh so different! It's deep, and funny, and a great read. Highly recommended.

This was a definite twist and variation on a variation of the Austen reads.

Isabel persuades or rather manipulates her friend Mary to join her in an Austen reinvention stay in England, all expenses paid. Isabel's dissertation is on Austen and to complete this she feels that this stay is necessary. Mary is an engineer, very clear cut in her views and ideas and thinks logically. This is really not her scene but she needs to get away from a unpleasant work scenario and her father too thinks this would be the ideal break. Two weeks is not the end of the world.

Everything goes on smoothly with the Regency clothes, the enactments, the food, the service at the inn. Until Isabel loses her memory, goes into a fugue state and forgets her entire past and actually begins to think that she is living at the time of Austen with the same mores and rules that apply then. Mary is on her own to deal with the situation and deal with it she along with the other participants do.

The complication and distrust set in when Mary half way through discovers betrayal by a friend who has been close to her and her family from the time they were tots and the work scenario becomes very much personal and in Mary's face.

The story was beguiling and interesting and different and totally different to what I've read before on JA variations!

Goodreads review up on 21/7/2017. Review on Amazon not permitted as yet. Review on my blog 9/11/2017. Also linked on my FB page.