I’d previously read Linda’s Love you from A-Z which was a lovely cosy romance with great disability rep. When I saw she had another book coming out I had to read it… well add it to my TBR!

I’m going to admit that I am not much of a Jane Austen fan. I had to read Emma and Withering Heights at school for a book report, and Wuthering Heights won my heart. I am a gothic tale gal! However this book may have convince me to give ol’ Jane another go.

In this cosy, enemies to lovers romance, we follow Maddy, an agony aunt who has just lost her job but also just received an inheritance from an estranged family member. Moving from London out to a countryside manor, Maddy inherits not just this house but a cast of brilliant village friends who remind me so much of the Vicar of Dibley and Calender Girls.

Whilst settling in she discovers that a recent run in with a famous author isn’t quite over and done with and he’s going to be in her life a lot more than she expected.

What follows is a discovery of family history and misunderstandings, a new community of quirky characters (we even get a ghost hunt), and a new love blossoming in the most unexpected place all while trying to organise a literary festival for the first time.

If you need something escapist, cosy, and captivating right now then this is the book you’ve been looking for.

Linda is fast becoming an auto read/buy author!

A lovely feel good easy read that I read in a couple of sittings. I would definitely read more by this author! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

I just finished this book and absolutely loved it. Have you seen the movie the holiday? There are parts of this book that reminded me of that movie.
This book is set in the quiet English country side.
Maddy is a journalist that lives in London with her roommate. She runs the “Dear Jane” column. After losing her job and feeling pretty down she gets a phone call from her dad, the death of a relative she has only heard about but never met. He leaves her his house in his will, the stipulation is she has to live there for one year, oh and she is also in charge of running the literary festival at the end of the summer. Now she is in charge of finding speakers for the festival.
She knows an author but after their on air radio disagreement she has to decide if she can ask him for a favor and speak at the festival.
This book has been such a good contemporary romance. The setting is one of my favorites. The characters are wonderful and not too perfect. I really enjoyed this book!

What a delightfully refreshing modern Jane Austen-inspired story. The plot was fun, and the witty banter between heroine Maddy and hero Cameron was electric. A perfect summer read, I recommend it to those who enjoy romcoms, enemies to lovers tropes, a bit of mystery, and books with all-heart.

I’m terribly sorry but I didn’t like this book. I think it has almost everything I can’t connect with, an almost non existant love story, a tiny village with peculiar characters, an intriging story abour a dead character that I couldn’t care less… Maybe it’s not the book, it’s me, so I encourage you to read it and enjoy it yourself

This was cute but didn't quite hit the mark for me. It didn't grab my attention right away and I wanted more chemistry.

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I am not necessarily a fan of Jane Austen's work, I wanted to try this book.

Maddy Shaw is a writer that has a column in a London publication that was ceremoniously fired for an unknown reason. On Valentines Day, she has to go a podcast with a crime novelist and they did not hit it off. Afterwards, Maddy finds out she inherited a house in a local village, but she has to live in it for one year before she can sell it. She takes in a boarder to help bring in income without knowing who it is. It is Cameron Massey - the crime writer.

As the year progresses, misunderstandings and hilarity ensues along the lines of what I have told are Jane Austen novels.

I absolutely loved this story! Set in a small British village, with wonderful main characters and a cute romance. Add a dog in the mix and Jane Austen references, and I was thoroughly entertained.

Maddy Shaw loses her job as agony aunt but inherits a large house in a small village from a distant relative she didn’t even know.
She meets her new neighbours and even takes a lodger. To her surprise, the task of organising the annual literary festival was also part of her inheritance.

The only requirement is that she has to live in the house for a year before she is allowed to sell it. While counting down the days, Maddy gets more and more involved in village life.

ADORE IT!

I'm a huuuuge fan of Jane Austen so any book with her motif is on my TBR list.
and God, this one was soooo cute!

We have Jane and Darcy. We have two fans of literature with different opinion on the Austen's books.
Family secrets, small communities, beautiful English landscapes and story full of books, old manuscripts and beautiful friendships which turned into something more.

Delightful, beautiful, moving and perfect for fans of Austen

Love love loved this!!! This was such a cozy romance. I loved the characters and the setting, everything was so cute and the little mystery touch was great.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

This book was really cute!! I liked the clear research done around Jane Austen as it’s always risky using a famous persons name unless you know actual things about them but this was really good. It was easy to lose yourself in this and just read something easy, funny and something that gave you all the feels! It was full of good characters and was super light hearted. Really enjoyed this!

I’m a sucker for a English romance where the FMC inherits a countryside manor and has to deal with a local boy enemy. Throw in the classic literature/Jane Austen references and I’m done for. This book was super cute and I also loved the little mini-mystery it had as well.

This was a fun one. A bit of mystery, a bit of countryside, a Mr Darcy-like author with a slightly mysterious past, a literary festival, what's not to like. Kind of a modern day Jane Austen novel. Fun to read!

This book was funnier than I was expecting! This was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, which I greatly enjoyed. The sparks between Maddy and Cameron were perfect. And who doesn't love a book about books?

Linda Corbett's "What Would Jane Austen Do?" is a delightful romantic comedy that will capture the hearts of Jane Austen fans and romantics alike. With its charming setting, endearing characters, and witty banter, this novel is a captivating homage to the beloved author and her timeless tales of love and wit.

At the centre of the story is Maddy Shaw, a Jane Austen aficionado who finds herself thrust into a quaint English village after inheriting a country home from her long-lost cousin. Tasked with organising the annual village literary festival, Maddy must also contend with her new neighbour, bestselling crime author Cameron Massey, whose cynicism about romance puts him at odds with Maddy's romantic ideals.

What sets "What Would Jane Austen Do?" apart is its clever blend of romance, humour, and literary references. Corbett expertly weaves elements of Jane Austen's novels into the narrative, creating a charming and whimsical atmosphere that will enchant readers from the very first page. From the witty repartee between Maddy and Cameron to the quirky antics of the village residents, every scene sparkles with charm and wit.

Moreover, the romance between Maddy and Cameron is both sweet and steamy, as they navigate their differences and discover a connection that transcends their initial animosity. Corbett's writing is heartfelt and engaging, capturing the essence of Jane Austen's timeless romances while adding a modern twist.

In addition to its romance, "What Would Jane Austen Do?" also explores themes of family, friendship, and the power of literature to inspire and uplift. As Maddy immerses herself in the world of Jane Austen, she learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

As long as you go into the book without the expectation of an Austen retelling, i think readers will really enjoy it. The title is more of how the heroine is a fan of Austen and the author works quotes into the plot. The author does use some tropes like enemies to lovers and forced proximity, but they didn't feel annoying here. The romance kept me reading more than the subplots about Maddy's family. Very quick pool read for me and I enjoyed the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was a DNF for me. I didn't really like the main male character and couldn't see why the female character would fancy someone with his quirks and difficulties. And I'm a Jane Austen purist and there was no connection between this book and her.

Good book that took me a few chapters to get into. It just felt like the story was not moving at first,

What Would Jane Austen Do?
by Linda Corbett

A lovely light hearted read especially if you are fond of Jane Austen. There are quotes throughout the book. An unexpected bequest from an unknown relative when you are nearly on your upper especially when it is a large house in the country. A great lighthearted read Maddy’s only stipulation is she must live in the house for a year and she intends to sale after that but will she? Nigel keeps revealing secrets from and you are well entertained throughout the book. I really enjoyed this lighthearted witty read, and let’s not forget Luke the lodger. Great fun. 4.5/5

OK, I have to admit that it wasn't the Jane Austen aspect that made me want to read this book, but the overall sound of it, I love a enemies to lovers and this sounded right up my street and I was pleased to say that my initial thought of it was right, it doesn't disappoint.
I liked the Jane Austen quotes wich opens each chapter, and I really loved the whole clashing of the heads of the romantic reader and defender of all things happily ever after and the stoic non-romantic crime writer - huge amounts of fun there!
An cute and entertaining read, easy and non-taxing and light-hearted read, perfect for those who love enemies to lovers/grumpy sunshine and off course; Jane Austen!
Definetely recommended, perfect for those lazy days!