I loved this book! The cast of characters were wonderful and the story flowed beautifully. I found the development of the main characters satisfying and the ending perfect..
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for my honest opinion.

This book was an absolute DELIGHT to read! I loved every character and their storyline. I loved their love of Jane Austen and desire to keep her memory alive and to create a place for other Austenites to come visit. I loved the era in which the book was written. How the book was mostly written post WWII. I read a lot of WWII novels and while they are amazing, I appreciated that this novel took place after the war and as a reader, I could see how the war had impacted each of their lives. Each of the characters came from such a different point, but Austen brought them together. And that was so beautiful. My only complaint is that it took a long time for The Jane Austen Society to actually come together, and as that's the title of the book, I would have liked more time with the Society as a whole. But also, let's gush for a second about how GORGEOUS this cover is! It's positively stunning! Needless to say, if you love Austen or you just love Historical Fiction, this would be a book for you!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Jane Austen Society was such a fun book to dive into. Now I'm a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice because who doesn't love Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy? So, I wasn't at all hesitant about asking for this book. Long story short, I was super excited when I was accepted to read this.

Picture me completely fangirling before even diving into it.

Yes, it happened and it was gloriously funny.

Back to this book, it had some fun moments. Not going to lie, I was a bit bored during some parts but that tends to happen with books from time to time. Still enjoyed all the crazy characters that I met along the journey. Might even have a favorite or two - I just wont spoil it.

If I could change anything it would be the overall pacing. The up and down, fast and slow, were driving me a little nuts. I hate when parts in a book drag for so long that I feel like I might fall asleep mid sentence. Then you magically zoom through the next chapter or two to fall back into that awful slow rut.

Overall, it was entertaining and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it!

The Jane Austen Society is a heartwarming story. A group,of people, who otherwise had very little in common, convene to discuss their shared love of all things Jane. The story reveals each person's story and why the connections with each other were therapeutic. Set during WWII and after, the novel presents a works that had been ravaged and the characters who are trying to assume normalcy again.

I absolutely loved The Jane Austen Society, a historical novel set in a small English village just after World War II. The characters are beautifully drawn and the historical setting is perfection. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed this book. Eight hurting and disparate people come together by happenstance and form the Jane Austen Society. The purpose was to preserve everything Jane Austen in the village where she grew up. I loved the descriptions of the village and the way of life. I also liked learning about Jane Austen..

This book was very good but a little hard to get into. I enjoyed the characters and their ties to Jane Austen.

Loved it! I loved the characters, the setting and the storyline. It was a very welcoming novel that drew me in and kept my interested until the last page.

I think that it's quite impossible for me to completely describe how much I loved this book but I will try my best. Having a story with a large cast of characters can be difficult and confusing, yet Natalie Jenner introduced each unique character in a way that was clear, concise, and left you wanting to know more about them. Each character has such a special place in my heart, and I love how perfectly she connected them to each other by more than just their mutual love of Jane Austen. Natalie Jenner’s writing is simply gorgeous; she captures the love one can have for books as well as why and how books influence our lives and personalities. I’ve never felt more understood as a reader.
For me this story was perfectly paced, interesting the entire time, and had just the right amount of detail. I could picture every character, conversation, place, and scenario so clearly in my mind. At a certain point it even made me cry, but not out of sadness; out of pure joy. I have never had that happen before. I can’t pick a favourite character because I love them all so much, but I have to say that I really enjoyed the women of the group. They were smart, resilient, strong, supportive, and impossible not to like. Though I have an ARC e-edition I will absolutely be purchasing my own copy to have in my library, as I know that I will want to read this over and over again. If you love Jane Austen, Historical Fiction, or even just well written books, I highly recommend The Jane Austen Society.

This novel will be released next May 26th, I received a digital copy of this novel courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, here it is (if the cat lets me finish, she thinks she deserves more attention than my keyboard !) :

First of all, let me tell you that, as the author says in the end, this story is completely fictional, it's in no way a description of what really happened, just what could have happened.

I requested this book because many people said first, that it was really good, second, that it reminded them of The Guernsey Literary and Potato peel pie society, which I read when it was published and still remember fondly, and third because, well, there's Jane Austen in the title and I'm a huge fan.

Fans like me will greatly appreciate all the references to the books of their beloved author, read the literary discussions as if we were ourselves among a group of Jane Austen lovers and talking about which book we prefer, which character, which quote we love and why. There are not many better ways to spend the time ! Those who have never read her novels will dearly want to correct that while enjoying the story.

The story takes place after the second world war, when so many people lost their loved ones, family members, friends, when the TV was beginning to appear but most people went to the cinema and everybody listened to the readio. In Chawton, that small village where Jane Austen lived for a few years, everybody knows everyone, the doctor has given birth to most children and accompanied the dying, all the people cope as best as they can with the past.

Several of these people, an ex teacher who lost her husband at war, a farmer who lost his father and brother, a doctor who lost his wife, a sollicitor who has been loving a woman from afar since she refused to marry him, a young girl who was forced to leave school but wants more out of life, a famous American actress with an uncertain love life and a woman who spent her life under the rule of her awful father, all join in The Jane Austen Society, wanting to create a place where Jane Austen fans from all over the world could come and see her cottage, the desk she wrote on, the books she read, the jewels she wore, etc., something that the village was sadly lacking until then.

I really loved reading how they managed it and at the same time, how they finally changed their lives for the better. One thing though : there are two characters in there who end up in happiness, but how they get together is not as much described as it is for the others. Anyway, I closed this heartwarming book with a happy smile upon my face and recommend it to you.

OK, cat, I'm all yours !

This book was such a great story. I was sucke din right from the beginning. I really enjoyed the plot, characters handwriting style!

I’m not an Austen fan, but I might have to go and give her another chance! I loved this book and how Austen’s works and life brought these characters together and impacted their lives. Well written, with characters that I really cared about. I’m a historical fiction fan and I could really imagine myself in England in the 1940’s while reading this book. I can’t wait for this author’s next book.

Working my way through this, and loving what I have read so far. I want to savor it, so I am reading slow for a change. Will be buying a copy for my local library when it comes out.

Much of this novel takes place shortly after WWII in the village where Jane Austen resided. Some of the villagers form a Jane Austen society to try and create a small museum. The heir presumptive to the erstwhile Austen estate is an evil old curmudgeon who largely cuts his only daughter out of his will, but maybe there is a way to get around this draconian decision? A parallel story is about Hollywood actress Mimi who is enamored of all things Austen, and who joins the Austen society with the villagers. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner~
Being a fan of Jane Austen, I was truly excited to be able to read this. Set in 1945 just after WWII in the very small English Village named Chawton which is non other than the last place where Jane Austen lived before she passed away. The reader is introduced to a number of characters that reside within and outside the village who all come from very different walks of life but have one thing in common, their fascination and love for Jane Austen. When Jane’s home is in threat of being sold off they soon band together to create The Jane Austen Society in an effort to preserve the famous authors legacy.
The little stories that intricately weave within is what I truly enjoyed. Comprised of friendships, love, heartache, sorrow and even a wedding or two. Which is all very familiar in the Austen fashion but still holds something different so as not to be a complete copycat.
Definitely recommend for anyone that of course loves Jane Austen but also to those that love the simple human stories of just living and enjoying your life for what it is or could be.
This book will be published May 26, 2020. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Following the Second World War, the Knight family, distant relatives of Jane Austen, occupy the diminishing estate in Chawton, England, where Austen spent her final years. With the Knight patriarch on his deathbed, and his having only a daughter to whom he refuses to bequeath his estate, the Austen legacy in Chawton is threatened. A diverse group of Chawton residents who love Austen band together to save it.

For me, there was just too much going on in this book to be entirely enjoyable. I love the premise. But I wish I had had more time to get to know the characters well. Maybe it could have been better for me if the author had focused on one or two of the members of the Jane Austen Society, instead of on all of them. The writing is enjoyable, but I couldn't move past my lack of connection with everyone.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC.

I absolutely loved this book. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and of course I was excited to receive an advanced copy to review. Natalie Jenner did not disappoint The characters and the settings were developed and pulled me into the story. Sharing the passion of Jane Austen’s work amidst some near and dear friends both new and old, makes one look at the meaning behind Austen’s work through different perspectives. Keeping Jane Austen’s work alive via The Jane Austen Society is brilliant. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this lovely book.

THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY--set for publication May 26, 2020--is a quaint read with a writing style that hearkens back to Jane Austen herself. Within the novel, readers learn about the stories of each character and their unlikely friendships (and romances) built around a love of Jane Austen's work. Austen's novels are frequently referenced during the book, but it's not necessary to have a good understanding of her works to enjoy THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY; even so, a familiarity with her characters and novels will add enjoyment to this reading experience as characters often discuss their own understanding of Austen's stories.

There were moments that felt like anachronisms to me while reading THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, such as some of the dialogue and some of the characters' actions. But, by and large, the novel did have an old-fashioned feel to it, and the writing mirrored that as well. Three stars for a good read that was sweet but not saccharine and a tribute to Austen that all readers can enjoy, even those who aren't exactly die hard fans of Austen themselves. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A review that I read of this book noted that if you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society you would love this book—and it’s true. I loved this book! This is a fictional account of the birthing of The Jane Austen Society in the small English village of Chawton where she last lived, Shortly after the end of World War II and unlikely group of neighbors living in this village put their heart and soul into creating a museum for a memorial to the author they all revere. The author, Natalie Jenner, has brought her characters so fully to life through the development of their personalities and relationships I felt I knew each one of them personally. Through her precise use of prose, I could see the attraction between each character build before they themselves were aware of it, much the same way Jane Austen did. When you are so able to immerse yourself in a book that transports you to the time and place of its writing, that is a good book indeed—and this one does just that. I am so glad I found this book through NetGalley and am pleased to recommend this book.

This story was wonderful! Nicely paced and beautifully written. It was like eating a whole carton of ice cream all to myself... one delicious bite at a time! Well done!