I do so hate to write a less than stellar review for a book authored by someone I’m a fan of. But that is where I find myself now, and why I’ve been putting off writing this review since I finished the book about a month ago.

I love Jane Austen. I’ve been a fan of Katherine Reay’s previous books (with the exception of The Bronte Plot). So when I saw she was writing another book with a Jane Austen tie-in, I started stalking NetGalley to request a copy as soon as it was available.

This book just didn’t do anything for me. The romance aspect and its issues were clear from pretty much the beginning. The entire story line was predictable. I can deal with a predictable story line as long as the characters are brilliantly written and engaging. They weren’t.

While the idea of going staying at a Regency area living history “hotel” could be infinitely fascinating, in this story it wasn’t. That part was just confusing as sometimes the characters involved were “living history” and other times they were just normal, modern-day people. Which I think defeats the purpose of paying that kind of money for that specific experience.

I just had issues with the story and the story telling on many levels. And that makes me sad.

I received a free advanced reader copy from Net Galley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit www.mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com

I have read every single Katherine Reay book written so I know her style. When the beginning started a little slow, I just sat back and got comfortable, knowing she was setting the stage and aligning her characters in a way that was going to stretch my understanding of human emotional journeys through classic literature. The setting of an "Austen Escape" was fun (one I'd love to experience) but that was only the backdrop...this book is so much more than that. It speaks of friendship, of understanding the unspoken and brokenness within us all, of stepping out of shadows and being brace and vulnerable to truly be oneself. True to life, the characters have messy histories and sometimes make huge mistakes that stem from hurts not healed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the insights and reintroduction to beloved Austen characters and books. There were a lot of good quotes, and I wish I'd highlighted them along the way to save.
I'd recommend escaping a few hours in the pages of this book.

I enjoyed the protagonist, a woman going through changes in work, friendships, and her own sense of self in The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay. Mary and a friend head to Bath for a themed holiday Jane Austen style, where the main action takes place. It's a good read and I grew to like the main character, but I wondered where the element of transforming faith would come in. I didn't detect that - which I found surprising as the novel is published by Thomas Nelson, a publisher of so-called Christian books.

It's a nice escape but with so many good books out there, I don't know if it'd be the first one I'd choose.

This was a delightful read. The characters are well developed and likable, or (some) pitiable once you learn more about their history. I liked Mary's character. She faces tough decisions and trials throughout the book. She may not be perfect, but the way she handles each trial is a credit to her character. Her friend Isabel is one of those girls you kind of want to hate, but there's so much pain in her past that you are reminded that everyone needs kindness and love in their lives, and we all need forgiveness. There are other characters in this book that were also so interesting and while they were not main characters I liked that Katherine Reay gave them page time. Many of them had discoveries of their own along the way that made me feel that happy endings weren't just for the main characters. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'm avoiding naming all the characters. Nathan, the man that stands between Isabel and Mary is a sweet but strong type. He doesn't come in like a storm and sweep anyone off their feet. He has sweet steadiness is so endearing.
The way the setting is described in this book makes you want to book a stay at this gorgeous manor in England. Is it a real place? If not it should be! From the setting, to the costumes, to the Austen references. I enjoyed every bit of this book. Even if you aren't a die hard Austen (Jane, of course) fan this is a fun, clean romance.

Would I read it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Clean read? Yes.


I received this book from NetGalley. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As a fan of Austen I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this book. Modern day engineer Mary is struggling at work and when her old friend Isabel begs her to come to England to spend two weeks living the life of an Austen heroine in an stately home , she decides to take a break from it all and step back in time. Between the failure of her most recent project at work, tensions with a new boss and a completely different type of tension with a handsome consultant in the office, a break is exactly what she needs. However when family drama becomes too much for Isabel causing a break from reality, it reveals a side to their friendship that causes Mary to question how much she can trust her friend, and help with the situation comes from a surprising source.
Witty, light-hearted and immensely fun to read, this is definitely recommended for any fan of Austen and her wonderful world of characters. Have fun with Mary, Isabel and the other guests who all take on the persona of various characters as part of the retreat, and in some cases find those traits seeping through into their real life personalities too.
This was my first experience of Katherine Reay's work , but I look forward to reading more, it is clear that she writes with not only a good knowledge of, but also a great love for her subject matter.

Seeing "Thomas Nelson" as the publisher, I kept waiting for Jesus to be the third character in the romance. However, that was not the case. This was a gentle, but engrossing tale of two people who need to get out of their own way. Recommended for any Austen fans, clearly, but also for any fans of gentle romances.

Mary is having issues at work. Her creativity is being stifled and things are not going well with a new gadget she has created. Isabel has been her best friend for years but their relationship has been filled with strain. When Isabel asks Mary to go on a vacation to Bath and dress in period clothing to help Isabel nail down her thesis Mary is tempted to say no. But with things going downhill at work Mary decides to take Isabel up on her offer. When Mary and Isabel arrive in Bath they embark on a voyage of self-discovery. Both women work through their own hurts and disappointments as well as misconceived ideas about situations and relationships.

Just when I would think, "okay things are going to get better, Mary's figured it out" things would go downhill again. It kind of annoyed me! I did like the romance between Nathan and Mary, but I also got frustrated with that. Isabel was a wounded soul, her father had pretty much ignored and rejected her all of her life. Her behavior made her a rather unlikable character for a while. I enjoyed the setting and the fun of reading about the characters dressing up in their favorite characters from Austen's novels. Even though I did get frustrated with Mary and Isabel's issues I enjoyed the book and was happy when everything turned out in the end.

This review will post on my blog November 7,2017, it will also post on Amazon, Goodreads and my facebook pages.

Toss the word ‘Austen’ in a book’s title and I’ll likely jump on the chance to read it—even better if Katherine Raey wrote the book! I came across Raey last year when I read the luscious Portrait of Emily Price. This book pleases the reader’s palette as well.

Mary___ a young engineer at a creative start-up company, fears that the new CFO wants to fire her. Despite Mary’s stellar on-the-job performance, her latest experiment won’t work, and things look bleak. Nathan, the consultant hired to help the company streamline procedures and processes seems interested in Mary, but she doesn’t believe it—after all, she has grown accustomed to solitude and always coming in second place with her maybe-best-friend Isabel.

When Isabel enlists help from Mary’s dad to convince her to take a two-week vacation in England, Mary caves. The separation from her job and her feelings for Nathan will give her a chance to figure things out. Mary feels leery about spending two weeks in period costumes at an English estate role-playing characters from Jane Austen’s books, though.

Once Isabel and Mary reach the estate, events unfold that can either make them or break them. By the third day, Isabel’s behavior has everyone from stable boys to fellow guests questioning her sanity. Will Mary have what it takes to help her friend? Does she even want to?

This beautiful story sings with quirky characters, heartfelt questions of relationships and how we damage each other without meaning to. If you love Jane Austen, you’ll love the Austen Escape.

Great read! Very enjoyable I would recommend to my friends and book club

A nice read. Easy, beach type reading. I liked the characters and the story. Coming from near Bath, it did feel a likely bit like the author was quoting Google maps when describing the city, rather than actually having been there. Perhaps not, but there were so many unnecessary street names given.

3.5 stars. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting when I read this. I had read the author's previous novels and enjoyed them so this had to have the same feeling. Right? It didn't have the wow factor and I found myself a bit confused in some parts. An Austen escape. You had me right there. Mary and her somewhat childhood best friend head to Bath, England for the experience of a lifetime. The whole time I thought , "This is exactly what I want to do." Through circumstances Mary finds a lot about herself and the guy she secretly likes. I felt Mary and her love interest just automatically fell in love and the leading up was so fast. Not my favorite but will definitely read more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review.

Fun new book from Katherine Reay who is gifted at crafting prose that makes this speed reader want to slow down and savor. Sweet romance and a brilliant dive into Austen's beloved works.

"I really enjoyed this book and it grabbed me right from the beginning. There were parts of the book that I could completely relate to which is part of the reason I loved it so much yet I know for some people they will not feel the same

I have read many of Katherine Reay's previous titles and they have all been delightful reads. I really enjoyed this glimpse into Mary's life and was thoroughly entertained. This was a fun, light read, full of wit and perfect for a summer afternoon by the pool.

I'm wary of Austen-related books, some of which read to me like cash-ins, without much awareness of what makes Austen so great. Kind of as if the book is trying to connect with the Keira Knightley P&P film, which I pretty much loathe, as it distorts the period and misses all the wit.

I saw that it was set in modern times, then contemporary people going back for an Austen experience, a la Austenland, which I was vastly disappointed with: though I love Shannon Hale's fantasy, the many errors in the period, and the Austen-related material, kept me from enjoying that book. Mileage varies, of course.

But Reay surprised me. First of all, Mary (whose name is Mary Davies, and I wondered if that was a sly salute to Mary Davys, one of the first female novelists, writing potboilers in the early 1700s) is a tech engineer, and no Austen fan, though her mother was. Her mother shared the Austen love with Isabel, Mary's bestie since childhood.

Long-term friendships can go sour before at least one of the friends is aware of it, if not both. Like some marriages, sheer habit can keep them together, or a wish for the golden days of the friendship. Isabel pretty much drags Mary onto this Austen trip, and Mary goes, partly from emotional blackmail, but also to get away from her job, and her antagonistic boss. Also, to get away from the freelancer, Nathan, who is there to evaluate the company--and for whom she has had the secret hots. But of course workplace romances are not comme il faux--and then Mary discovers that Isabel has been dating Nathan without telling Mary. Though Mary has been talking about him for months.

It's that competition and emotional undercutting that drives the book, with all kinds of character grace notes with the rest of the cast to both complement the emotional journey, and contrast with it.

Mary is a go-getter engineer, but emotionally she is curiously passive. Of course there is a reason she doesn't call Isabel on her behavior, as Isabel increasingly is demonstrating some disturbing signs that remind Mary of events in their childhoods. Mary's dad has been a mainstay for both, something Mary needs to come to terms with.

The Austen experience is interesting, the side characters lovely. I loved the elegant, vivid descriptions of the house the event is held in, and its story as it gradually comes clear. I think there was only one weak moment ), but that did not ruin the read for me. The climax is richly satisfying, and the fact that I could be lured into following a protagonist whose interests are pretty much the opposite of mine was testament to the author's skill.

This is a very sweet story! To be honest, I always start an Austen retelling with wariness. But if there is someone I can count to respect the beauty of a classic story and, at the same time, make it genuinely her own, that would be Katherine Reay.

I really liked Mary from the start. She is smart, loyal and dedicated - although she doesn't recognize her potential. She loves her job and has made good friends in it. However, Mary questions herself a lot and, to a certain point, she protects herself too. This is made worse when a new colleague makes Mary feel as if her job is on the line, even though she is one of the first hired employees and is someone her boss trusts a lot.

What seems opposite to Mary's more quiet personality is her boisterous best friend Isabel. From the beginning it is evident that, even though these to claim to be close, there is a certain unspoken tension between them. Isabel has had a tough childhood and has been able to find solace in Mary's closely knit family. Mary seemed to have everything Isabel didn't, and Isabel was happy enough to be included in the Davies's world. Even though they were able to harbor this friendship for years, I think the author gently pointed out how some unhealthy and ignored foundations were laid. Some readers might even complain that in the beginning of the book these two might seem to have no real chemistry.

But, as truth comes out and we get to know the facts surrounding Mary and Isabel's history, we understand Mary's fears and reserved nature, as well as Isabel's hurts and temper. My heart ached for them and rejoiced as well as they found their way back to themselves and to the people around them. When their eyes were opened to the preciousness of each person's individuality, but also the strength that a community can bring.

At first, I thought I would be bothered buy the entire play-dress-up. But it was brilliant! The innocence of make believe will help each character to find the best in themselves and learn to be brave. If you want to find out what I mean, you'll have to read this book!

I will not be publishing a review of this book. Thanks.

In reality, I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was an interesting read with a unique premise. I felt that the characters were a bit disjointed and never really felt the depth of friendship between Isabel and Mary. The romantic aspect was also weak, in my opinion. For a Christian Fiction book, none of the characters had a dynamic relationship with the Lord and their not talked about faith seemed to have no bearing on their lives. That aspect was a major disappointment to me. Overall, I just thought the story could have been deeper and better especially with a greater emphasis on a trust in the Lord and how that could have impacted their whole lives.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. At the beginning I was confused by the plot. I wasn't sure what Golightly was and why it meant so much to Mary. I didn't quite understand the whole thing with Nathan either, especially since they seemed to be heading in different directions from the beginning of the story.

I have to say though, that the longer I read, the more I understood. And, of course, the more I enjoyed the story. For those of you who liked Shannon Hale's Austenland, this is a similar book...just without a couple more mature scenes. While this is a cleaner novel, I still would only suggest it to older teens as it does deal with abuse (neglect not physical) and the mental affects stemming from the abuse.

I haven't enjoyed a book like this in quite a while. I loved how the some of the characters spoke about Austen with such familiarity while others were rather clueless. I loved the engineering aspect Mary brought in with how she thought and saw things. I loved the musical aspect with the piano. (Also, Bosendorfers... ) I loved how the characters spent time doing normal every day things together (even though they were pretending to be characters from Austen in Austen's time). I loved how the issues brought up in the story were resolved in the end. All the misunderstandings with Nathan, Isabel, and with Mary herself.

There were a few things that didn't wrap up very well. I was really confused by Mary's reaction to Nathan discussing work with Craig. She's in love with him judging by the way she was acting only 10 minutes before, but the moment she hears him talking to Craig and mentioning her name she concludes she must be getting fired. Why? Not really sure...unless it was just her insecurity about Karen not liking her. But then she refuses to listen to anything Nathan has to say and books a flight home to America without telling him...she doesn't even ask him what the call was about? Doesn't give him time to explain? Quits her job? Albeit, all this confusion and hubbub draws the conclusion out very nicely, but I really questioned the reasons the confusion and hubbub were caused. That's really my "con" though.

This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments here expressed are entirely my own.

I can't get enough of Katherine Reay's books. The worlds she creates are so lush that you feel like you are stepping into them, but I never feel bogged down in descriptions. In this book she manages to take you between a high tech world and Regency England in a way that feels natural. Her characters are well formed - relatable and flawed (which is maybe why they're relatable) - and they changed and grow throughout the book. As with her other books, this book is full of hope without a hint of being cheesy. As a Jane Austen fan, I loved all of the Austen references, but anyone who would enjoy a good character-driven story would enjoy this book whether they've read Austen or not.