The Audrey Hepburn Estate is set at the estate on Long Island that inspired the setting of the classic movie Sabrina. Emma Jansen grew up at the estate; her mother was a maid there. She was in love with the grandson of the owners, Henry, a charming golden boy. Leo, the chauffeur's son, had a crush on Emma and they were best friends. Years later, when Emma hears the estate is being demolished by a developer (Leo!) she visits to see her childhood home one more time. This opens a new chapter for Emma, Leo, and Henry ... with history of the estate interwoven.

I wanted to read this novel because Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses and I absolutely love the movie Sabrina. The book was rich with references to both Audrey Hepburn and Sabrina, as well as her other movies. There is even a detailed list of Audrey "Easter eggs" at the end of the book!

At first, I thought this would be a light romantic triangle, but it turned into a deeper and more thoughtful story, as some history dating back to World War II surfaces. (I won't say more to avoid spoilers.)

I recommend this unique novel and will look for Brenda Janowitz's other books as well.

I love that this book was a nod to the move Sabrina.

Emma grew up in Rolling Hill Estate. Her mom worked for the family. She hears the estate is being demolished and she is determined to fight to save the place.

People thought it was the home that Sabrina was filmed, but the mystery revolves into the true identity of the home and its owners.

The chapters alternate with Emma’s childhood and as an adult trying to save the home. What she uncovers about the home is a true mystery.

This story is about history, love, loss and a connection to the Holocaust.

I always want to like Brenda Janowitz's books more than I do. I'm drawn in by the beautiful covers and what you think is a historical fiction by the title they aren't.

The Audrey Hepburn Estate barely has any ties to Audrey and it's a contemporary/women’s fiction book with a timeline that makes no sense. I kept wondering when the book took place and kept expecting it to be the 1980s and not today. There is no way that the characters who don't seem to be more than 30 could have a father and grandfather who were teenagers during WWII. That part really drove me crazy.

I also thought the characters were pretty immature and I just couldn't get into the storyline. The only thing I did like was the author's note where she mentioned about Audrey Hepburn's own experiences during WWII.

This is historical fiction at its finest! The quick pace and dueling timelines kept me reading to find out what happened next! Without giving spoilers, know that it wasn’t what I expected and was definitely pleasantly surprising within the story, but also as a reader!

I'm a huge Audrey Hepburn fan so I had to read this book. This is a poignant and compelling story, there's a lot of references to Audrey Hepburn's life and movies, but there's also a well plotted story featuring well developed and interesting characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This book is an enchanting story of two different families and how their lives are connected because of one mansion. I love this book as I do all of Brenda Janowitz's books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who else loves Audrey Hepburn? She was so classic and glamorous, but there was a lot more to Audrey than her acting ability. She was also a humanitarian who was deeply scarred by the atrocities she witnessed at the hands of the Nazis.

Although Audrey isn’t a character in this book, there are tons of references to her films and life. If you grab a copy, be sure to read the author’s note and to have a copy of Audrey’s 1954 film Sabrina ready to binge.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to review and feature!

I found this book so intriguing! The reflections on the past made the story very charming and endearing and the mysteries of the house got more and more interesting as the story unfolded. I especially loved the tie-in to the movie Sabrina, although I grew up watching the version with Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, and Greg Kinnear.

I really liked Emma’s character. She was so passionate about saving the Estate and then was able to put her energy into serving others to make things right in her heart after learning the truth about the people she loved most. It was a relief when Emma finally figured out which best friend was her true match.

I found the author’s notes at the end to be very insightful into Audrey Hepburn’s life and made me want to watch both movies again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The title of this book is what drew me in, but the story itself is so much more than I was expecting. While I love all the nods and references to Audrey Hepburn, Emma’s return to the house she grew up in when she hears it is to be demolished is full of family secrets, a love triangle and makes this a compelling, entertaining read.

I really liked that this book was set in the time period following WWII, as the author was able to focus on the aftermath of the war and pieced together a really interesting storyline. The spotlight on stolen artwork during WWII from Jewish families was something I didn’t know a lot about so to learn more about how they restored it to Jewish historians and museums and how they went about recovering them was really intriguing. The history of The Audrey Hepburn Estate was great and I loved how true it was to the real history involving Audrey Hepburn and the film Sabrina. Going into this story I didn’t know much about Hepburn and this novel makes me want to learn more about her and her life experiences.

In addition to the great historical aspects of the story, readers also got to know three main characters, Henry, Emma, and Leo, who grow up together and experience many firsts with one another. The past and present timelines worked well for this novel and allowed for a coming-of-age story that was sweet, heartbreaking, and full of vulnerability. I found both the past and present storylines to be equally interesting and the twists were quite unexpected! I really had a hard time putting this one down and will definitely be seeking out other titles by this author to enjoy.

Thank you so much to HTP for the gifted arc copy of this novel. This was so interesting and perfectly paired the aspects I love about romance with an intriguing historical fiction storyline that kept me wanting to know more!

Emma, a celebrated chef and caterer, is upset that her childhood home is set to be demolished by a developer, Leo, who also used to live at the Audrey Hepburn Estate.

Emma was the housekeeper's daughter, Leo, the chauffeur's son, and rounding out their childhood trio was Henry, raised by his grandparents on the rolling estate out on Long Island. Long ago, Emma and Leo discovered a secret about Henry's family and now that the estate is ready to be torn down, those family secrets are coming to light.

Part mystery, part love-triangle romance, this story has all the drama and intrigue I expect from Brenda Janowitz.

"One woman. Two childhood loves. The dazzling place where it all began.

When Emma Jansen discovers that the grand Long Island estate where she grew up is set to be demolished, she can't help but return for one last visit. After all, it was a place filled with firsts: learning to ride a bike, sneaking a glass of champagne, falling in love.

But once Emma arrives at the storied mansion, she can't ignore the more complicated memories. Because that's not exactly where Emma grew up. Her mother and father worked for the family that owned the estate, and they lived over the garage like Audrey Hepburn's character in the film Sabrina. Emma never felt fully accepted, except by the family's grandson, Henry - a former love - and by the driver's son, Leo - her best friend.

As plans for the property are put into motion and the three are together for the first time in over a decade, Emma finds herself caught between two worlds and two loves. And when the house reveals a shattering secret about her own family, she'll have to decide what kind of life she really wants for herself now and who she wants to be in it."

Here for the Sabrina of it all!

A story of class divide and connections made in childhood that reverberate into adulthood sprinkled with a little bit of mystery, this one has a little bit of everything and a lot to make you think. Emma Jansen grew up in a beautiful estate known as The Audrey Hepburn Estate despite the fact that the claim that it was in the movie Sabrina is completely false. She was the daughter of the maid and butler but grew up with a close friendship with the son of the house, Henry. She has been in love with Henry since before she knew that was what she felt. And then, there was also the son of the chauffeur, Leo. The third in their friendship and the rock where Emma's emotions could rest and cry when Henry inevitably acted like the rich spoiled kid he was raised to be and ignored her when others were around.
The story jumps around between their time growing up together on the estate and when they're brought together once again in their 30s by the sale of the estate and its imminent demolition. It's a long series of revelations that force Emma to face up to her past and what she thought her life was and where it's going.
It makes for some really emotional reading and gives the reader almost as much to consider as it does Emma, which helped me connect to her character despite the fact that there isn't much I can relate with her about.
Jumping between different ages and years is usually confusing, but the flow of the story really works as the scenes from the past connect very well with what's happening now. At least those do. I had some issues with very sudden location and time changes in the 'now' scenes but it might possible that that was a formatting issue with the ARC.
I was not expecting the twist toward the end and I'm glad that Janowitz decided to take it in that direction because it gave Emma more to focus on than just the romance and it gave the entire book extra depth.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for the emotional rollercoaster of a read!

Janowitz always writes novels that make you think. I’ve only seen the remake of Sabrina, but I know Hepburn was born for the role so I was eager to read this book.
I had mixed emotions about Emma. She ricocheted between Henry and Leo, even though one completely used her and she kept coming back for more.
I put the pieces of a major plot twist together right after the manor revealed its huge secret.
I loved the Long Island setting and my favorites were the ladies of the historical society, Leo, and Francisco and Blanca. I had no use for Henry.
I loved how the author made Hepburn references for each chapter and also her author’s note.

Coming in April 2023, The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz is a must read for fans of Audrey Hepburn and the movie Sabrina.

Emma Jansen returns to the estate of her childhood when she learns of its planned demolition, which was the rumored inspiration for the Larrabee home in Sabrina. She can’t imagine her beautiful home as a planned high end condo community. Surely she can change the developer’s mind. After all, he grew up there, too.

Before she knows it, Emma is caught up between two childhood loves, overwhelming memories, and a long-buried family mystery that could devastate everything she ever knew and believed.

Brenda Janowitz has crafted a well-written, modern day tribute to the life and career of Audrey Hepburn. Rife with Easter eggs celebrating Audrey’s elegance and intelligence, this is a story of learning to use one’s past to become stronger by acknowledging the bad with the good and letting go of past dreams to make room for a brighter future.

I was very much looking forward to this book as I grew up a fan of Audrey Hepburn. I spent a great deal of time watching all her movies and reading several biographies. This story has certainly done her justice.

However, you don’t have to be a fan of Ms. Hepburn to enjoy this book. It’s a contemporary fiction that will capture your attention right away and keep you engaged until the end. The storytelling successfully balances the past and present while moving at an appropriate pace. It leaves the reader satisfied with the conclusion and cheering for the characters.

In the wise words of Ms. Hepburn, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” In my opinion, the next best thing to hold onto is a good book. Don’t let this one pass by!

“Home isn’t a place. A house is a physical space, but a home? Home is the people you want to be with, the ones you come back to at the end of a long day. It’s the life you create for yourself, not an actual place.”

Creating a sense of home is something we can all relate to at one time or another, and therefore the exploration of this common theme will be easily picked up by readers and they will become engaged in the process.

Before I started reading, I would never have guessed in a million years that the iconic Audrey Hepburn placed ‘home’ as one of her most life-giving places. Janowitz’s story is inspired by her obsession with this Hollywood starlet and her love of the movie, Sabrina. The author has deftly blended fashion, grace and history into a spellbinding story that showcases Long Island and the Gilded Age mansions. Janowitz examines the life we create for ourselves - ‘home’ - and gives us the opportunity to self-evaluate.

At the center of the story is Emma Jansen, a young girl who embodies many of the characteristics of Audrey Hepburn - even the same address. As time passes, she becomes involved in a love triangle at the Rolling Hill grand estate and it results in bringing her to a place where she has to face the unthinkable. Running parallel to an exploration of ‘home’ is Janowitz’s examination of the value we place on knowing the truth.

“How did you tell someone that everything they thought was true about their life was actually a lie? How did you tell someone something that would make their world come crashing down?”

You’ll be left with a thought-provoking question and a realization that all is not always as it seems.

This would be a perfect book for those who enjoy lighter historical fiction with an emphasis on a coming-of-age story centered around young romance.

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Spectacular, captivating, and intriguing-- this was a stunning read! With Janowitz's excellent character development, delightful pacing, family secrets, a love triangle, you'll find yourself escaping in this historical fiction read. The protagonist, Emma, grew up on The Audrey Hepburn Estate with Henry and Leo. When Leo's company goes to demolish the home, Emma steps in to stop it. There are several deep, dark secrets from the past that can be devastating. Also, some betrayals, lies, and murders come to light. This was an engaging read with a satisfying ending. Enthusiastically recommend!

I wanted to love this book. I love Audrey Hepburn and a book written with Audrey as a central theme had me so excited. However, I ended the book feeling let down. The writing was very scattered. I didn’t mind then THEN and NOW switching, but the time jumps and setting changes were abrupt. At one point we’d be in the middle of a conversation, then we’d switch chapters and be in a new place, new characters around, and I found myself trying to keep up with the story.

I think the time periods could have been more specific. It was hard to imagine how old Emma was if her dad was involved in WWII. I just think this could have been described better.

I also didn’t get invested in why Emma was so emotional about the house. The story didn’t feel believable so I was on the outside throughout. There are a few twists that I didn’t see coming, but just not enough to change my rating.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Emily, Henry, and Leo grew up together at the house known as the Audrey Hepburn estate on Long Island. This dual time line novel shifts between consequential events in the past and the present, when Emily tries to convince Leo not to tear the estate down for redevelopment. There is a bit of a love triangle in the present between Emily, daughter of workers on the estate and Leo, whose father was a driver, and Henry who was the grandson of the owners, The more interesting events take place in the past and those familiar with Hepburn's life (and the movie Sabrina) will find that Janowitz has done both well. It's likely you'll be able to guess the outcome but it's a good read. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Don't miss the afterword.

My first Brenda Janowitz but it won't be my last! This books will remind you of the movie Sabrina, where Emma is caught between the past and present on the estate where she grew up. With dueling timelines that offer us both Emma’s present day status and romantic entanglements, and her formative years and the relationships that helped to shape her into who she is. Part love story and part coming of age, The Audrey Hepburn Estate takes us into the mansion rumored to be the property featured in the Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina, and illuminates some of the darkest secrets hidden within it’s walls.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for this e-arc.*