I had a hard time rating this book. On one hand, I loved this book. It was beautifully written, I loved the stories that were told within its pages and as I [now] love Austen [though from this, I think I will have a real problem when I finally read Emma!], I loved how the author wove her story into this one as well, it SHOULD have been a 5 star read. I was so captured by the setting and the characters and the whole story. Except...

The crass Americans. Though Mimi redeems herself, at the beginning, both she and Jack [who is one of the ICKIEST characters I have read in a long time and due to not being a spoiler, that is all I will say about him - and I only say that because you can see that from the moment you meet him in the book] are just crass, vulgar Americans and it was so freaking grating. The one chapter set in Hollywood is just...ick. I cannot say anymore as I do not want to ruin anyone's read of this [just know that the book IS worth reading after. Though it took me awhile to even want to pick it back up and see how it went. Thankfully it was better], but also know that THIS reader felt that it was jarring and icky and very, very, unnecessary. That chapter does not benefit the story nor does it move it along. The book would have been close to a perfect story without it there. It mars the book and does ALL the other characters a disservice by even being there. IF it had been a book ONLY about Mimi, then I can see how it would have worked, but since it was not....Ugh. I was so disappointed and almost didn't finish the book because of it. Thankfully, I chose to read "just one more chapter" after some time away and I was able to read to the end and just loved the rest of it.

Adam and Miss Knight and Evie were my favorite characters. I adore Adam. He makes this story for me. His hidden passions and his love of Austen and how reading her makes him come alive is so very cool to watch and I loved the book more when he was on the page. They truly make the book, and make the other characters come alive and seem more interesting because of their interaction with them. I really enjoyed as well, how flawed Dr. Gray is. That was refreshing. Overall, this was a really great read and I am so glad that I was able to finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"We love Jane Austen because her characters, as sparkling as they are, are no better and no worse than us. They're so eminently, completely human." The Jane Austen Society, by Natalie Jenner.

In post WWII Chawton, a picturesque English village, everyone has made their own sacrifices and experienced loss, but a devoted number of residents are also united and uplifted by their love of Jane Austen's novels. We learn their individual stories as they come together to form the Jane Austen Society, and to transform the cottage on Austen's brother's old estate into a museum. There's some romance, some mild British village drama, and a whole lot of reference to (and reverence for) Austen's most beloved stories.

This is a delightful debut with a great deal to endear it to any Austen fan. I enjoyed noticing (and perhaps imagining) subtle similarities between a few of the storylines / characters in this book and those beloved characters I know well from Emma and Pride and Prejudice. It was lovely listening in as characters had casual bookish discussions along the way, reminding me why I love these classics so much myself. It's hard not to want to drop everything and start rereading Austen by the time you're finished with this one. It's comfort reading.

It's a story about loss and grief, finding solace in literature and in community, how life always contains possibility and mystery. And friendship. There's great friendship here too. I think that comparisons in tone to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society are deserved. I'd happily put this in the hands of anyone who adored that one. I also think that it would be perfectly shelved near The Chilbury Ladies Choir and Dear Mrs. Bird, as all of these books approach war and its aftermath with a gentler, quieter style, and explore the healing power of art as we face life's hardships.

I was very much looking forward to reading about a group of people that loved Jane Austen's work and got together to discuss them, But, unfortunately, I made it no further than chapter 6. My reading came to a stop when suddenly the book was filled with numerous obscenities as well as an attempted rape that was described in detail. Very sad that a possibly good book that up to this point had sounded interesting totally lost my interest.

I started to read this and unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. It's really well-written and I can see people absolutely loving this book - especially fans of Jane Austen. I DNF'd this one. It's just not for me.

More than 100 years after Jane Austen’s untimely death, several residents of the village of Chawton form the Jane Austen Society to preserve Austen’s former home from its gradual decay. This novel follows the lives, friendships, and loves of the eight members of the Society. Austen lovers will enjoy the lively discussion of Austen’s works and debates about each society member’s favorite Austen heroine and hero. While it’s difficult for an author to surprise readers when characters and plot lines parallel those in Austen’s novels, Jenner does pull off a surprise or two. In addition to Austen fans, this novel will appeal to readers who relish gentle reads, and especially those set in English villages.

This review is based on an electronic advanced reading copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Want to immerse yourself in Jane Austen's world without rereading one of her classics? Here is your chance. Although the book is set in the 20th century (the majority of it after WW II is over), the place is still very Austenesque. And since the main characters are discussing Austen's books and characters all about the village, you see how much of Jane is still there. It is a lovely tale of a group of people whose lives seem to have stalled and how a common purpose unites them and moves them forward to bigger and better things. Natalie Jenner's writing weaves Austen's themes through the scenes that make up the narrative in ways that will be most evident to true fans, but even those less knowledgeable of the intricacies in the Austen treasury will still greatly enjoy the book. This should prove to be a popular book group pick as there are many issues related to the characters that could be mined in a discussion.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In the style of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this book is like a heartwarming peek into the lives of the residents of a charming, quiet English town. As a lifelong fan of Jane Austen, I was delighted by the many "easter eggs" in this book and could see the subtle parallels drawn from her novels to the characters in Jenner's book.

This was a truly charming, quiet, character study and makes for a wonderful lazy weekend read!

I’ll admit Historical Fiction is not my favorite genre to read. I feel they are a slow build up and that’s hard for me. I want exciting things to happen within the first few chapters. Hence why I love thrillers.
.
I read a few Jane Austen books when I was younger so I’m aware of the writing style and the character development. Going into this book I figured it would be slow and it would take some time to get into it. I stopped and started this book multiple times wanting to give it a chance. Sadly I just couldn’t make a connection. It’s not that I didn’t like it, it just wasn’t the book for me. I felt the whole book was slow, kind of confusing and I never really got anything out of it. I finished it, sat there for a moment and thought....that’s it? I just needed to feel more from it.
.
With that said, if you love Historical Fiction and Jane Austen then I suggest giving this book a chance. Just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it’s not right for you. More than likely you are going to enjoy it!

The story started after World War II. A group of Jane Austen enthusiast formed the Jane Austen Society. Each one has a story to tell. The struggles of each one, struggles of the society and ultimately how they accomplished their goals were the engaging parts of the story.

I had trouble initially following the book/story due to introduction of characters. As the story unravel ,each characters story unfolds and it kept my interest. (I particularly loved the story of Dr Gray and Adeline).
I love the way the author mixes some Jane Austen statements in the story.

This is a clean story. Any Jane Austen enthusiast will enjoy reading.

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Natalie Jenner, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is lovely, lovely, lovely!! It is just what I need in the "time of COVID".

I cannot believe that this is a DEBUT book! It was just wonderful. The only thing that could have made it better was if I had read any of Jane Austen's books - oh, the horror! If you are not a Jane Austen fan or have not read any of her books, this may make it harder for you, but you can still enjoy this lovely book.

Honestly, LOVELY is the perfect word to describe this wonderful tale. It starts out a little slowly describing and giving the backstory for the main characters which I ALWAYS love - I want to know more about them to make them more real to me! But, once it got going, I could NOT put this lovely book down.

This would be a wonderful book for Oprah or Reese to have and then to make into a LOVELY movie. I would think that it would be amazing!!

Obviously, this is a HIGHLY recommend book. Please read it - you will not regret it!!

Oh, what a lovely book this is! We travel back to post-WWII, to a tiny English village called Chawton. There is a large cast of characters, most of whom live in the village, and one famous American actress, who come together in this novel because of their love for Jane Austen’s books. They are all quite different people who end up banding together for a common cause-to preserve Jane Austen’s final home.

There are many characters in this book, and while it was a bit confusing at first, I read on and began to learn about all of them. And I fell in love with them. This is basically a character-driven story, so it requires you to slow down, curl up with a pot of tea and maybe a furry friend! I was transported to the village, with its rose-covered cottages and rolling fields. If you love Jane Austen, this book is definitely a must-read. But even if you’re not familiar with Austen’s books, this is still a beautiful book for lovers of historical fiction or if you just love a good story. This book was a privilege to read. 4/5 ⭐️

A must read for all Austen fans! The book market has a lot of Austen re-tellings, but this is different. It is about a wonderful eclectic group of people who want to preserve Austen's heritage. While Austen fans will find many references to their favorite stories and characters, Ms. Jenner has penned an original story set in 1940's England. Her prose is wonderfully reminiscent of post-war rural England, hoping to regain the peace and hope that had been missing during the war. The founding of the Jane Austen Society in the tiny village of Chawton, England was the pivotal shift in the lives of its members, urging each to reach for more in their lives. With beautiful insights to her characters' flaws, Ms. Jenner mirrors Austen's wit and message that others can hone us into our better selves.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a very sweet and cosy historical fiction novel that will be appreciated by all of Jane Austen's many fans. Set in Chawton, a village in Hampshire, England - this book follows several years in the lives of people who live and love Jane Austen.

This is the perfect kind of book for those looking for an escape - an escape from the global pandemic of today, an escape from the work from home stress, an escape from trashy tv. It's heart-warming and just....lovely.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Jane Austen Society takes place after World War II, and it weaves together the stories of multiple characters, whose lives become intertwined due to their shared love of all things Jane Austen. Old flames are reignited, and new ones burst to life. I enjoyed each character’s story, and I felt like the multiple points of view were well executed. The book was definitely a slow-paced one, but it really pulled me in during the second half, and I grew to care about all of the characters, who felt like old friends by the end. I’m not a die-hard Jane Austen fan; I’ve only read a couple of her books, but I still found the setting of her birthplace to be an interesting one.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an egalley of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. This was a delightful read with lots of historical details and really pandered to the Jane Austen nerd inside of me. The romances were cute, the characters were real, the traumas they went through was poignant and emotional, and the writing was lovely. I was only disappointed that the characters weren't based on real people at all, which I didn't find out until the end. Some of the plot lines felt a little far-fetched and maybe too soapy and even drawn out, but overall it was a sweet story that I really enjoyed. Anything about Jane Austen is a win for me.

A satisfying, fictional account of the very beginning of the Jane Austen Society, set mostly in the village of Chawton after WWII. We meet the founding members of the Society: a farmer, a country doctor, a solicitor, a house maid, a school teacher, a Hollywood actress, a Sotheby’s appraiser, and the last living member of the Knight family. Six of the eight members live in Chawton and though they all have different backgrounds, they bond over their love of Jane Austen’s books. Nearly every character is carrying heartbreak and loss, some more obviously than others. The author takes her time divulging their secrets with a writing style that is so engaging that I read this book in less than a day. There were a couple of elements to the story that I could have done without, and they detracted a little from my enjoyment, but much like a Jane Austen novel, nearly everyone gets a happy ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary ebook to review. All opinions are completely my own.

Natalie Jenner just warmed my cold, quarantined heart! How did she know that I needed a Jane Austen fix even more than tea and biscuits? Even if you are not an Austen aficionado, this delightful story about the residents of the small village of Chawton after WWII will make you feel alive. Jenner's characters like Dr. Gray and Frances Knight will remind you not only of Elizabeth Bennett and the Crawford siblings as they experience the aftermath of war, hope, love, loss, and change of fortune but make you think of your neighbors and friends. My only hope is that I can join The Jane Austen Society too!

Post WWII, a group of Austen lovers come together to preserve her heritage in the village of Chawton. They create the Jane Austen Society. Each of the members is in their own way traumatized by events of their past and they each find healing through this project. The novel was heartwarming and gives off delightful Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society vibes. Be warned, your Jane Austen knowledge will be tested, so make sure you have a working knowledge of all her novels to best enjoy all the references.

I wanted to like it more but for me it fell a little flat. The characters were a bit bland and the plot was too slow for my taste. If you've read Austen, you'll get extra satisfaction though as a reader in recognizing her timeless themes and characterization. The plot even finishes in a very Austen-esque way. But, for me, I had to make myself keep reading rather than being immersed. However, I would still recommend it to any Austen fan.

Note: I received a free electronic copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author Natalie Jenner for the opportunity to do so.

I love Jane Austen and this book was a charming novel for any Jane Austen fan! The book contained many references of Jane Austen, so if you have not read her books before I would recommend to read them before reading this book to help with context. This book will be wonderful for the niche Jane Austen market, but may confuse others if they start reading it. I enjoyed the romance in the book and that both males and females read Jane Austen.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley!